11 Autonomic Innervation of Head and Neck Structures Flashcards
In general terms, what are the target tissues for the autonomic nervous system?
Which structures in the head and neck receive sympathetic impulses and which receive parasympathetics?
- Sympathetic- fight or flight
- Smooth muscle of
- Blood vessels
- Eye lid (tarsal muscle)
- Iris (dilator pupilllae)
- Smooth muscle of
- Parasympathetic -rest and digest
- Smooth muscle of
- Iris (sphincter pupillae)
- Ciliary body (control thickness of lens)
- Respiratory and GI tracts
- Lacrimal glands
- Salivary and mucosal glands
*
- Smooth muscle of
How are parasympathetic and sympathetic outflow described in terms of location?
PS: Craniosacral outflow
SS: Throracolumbar outflow
At what spinal level segment do all the sympathetics destined for the head and neck come out at?
T1/T2
What are the top 3 ganglia of the sympathetic chain called?
Cervical ganglion (found in the neck)
(superior middle and inferior)
Use this diagram to describe the route of the sympathetic outflow to the head and neck
Imagine sympathetic plexus wrapped around carotid artery and branches
Give a possible cause of Horner’s syndrome. What is it and how does it present?
- Damage to sympathetics to the face
- Causes:
- Stroke
- Tumour in apex of lung and common carotid artery and its branches
Symptoms:
- Partial ptosis
- Levator palpebrae muscle- has 2 parts skeletal and smooth muscle
- Smooth muscle= superior tarsal- sympathetic innervation
- Levator palpebrae muscle- has 2 parts skeletal and smooth muscle
- Miosis
- Unopposed parasympathetics
- Constricted pupil
- Unopposed parasympathetics
Use as revision: Summary of sympathetic innervation to head and neck structures
Which cranial nerves carry parasympathetics (4)?
- CN III Oculomotor
- CN VII Facial
- CN IX Glossopharyngeal
- CN X Vagus
Fill in the missing gap in the diagram showing the parasympathetic innervation to the head and neck:
Which nerves pass through each of these foramen?
Name the parasympathetic nuclei associated with cranial nerve III.
Edinger Westphal
Name the 4 parasympathetic ganglia for the head and neck:
This diagram shows the path of the cranial nerve III (oculomotor). Where on this diagram are is the Edinger Westphal nucleus and the Cilliary ganglion?
What path do the parasympathetics supplying the:
- Ciliary muscles (alter shape of lens)
- Sphincter pupillae muscles (constrictor of pupil)
take?
Brianstem-CN III- ciliary ganglion- small branches from CN Va–>
- Ciliary muscles (alter shape of lens)
- Sphincter pupillae muscles (constrictor of pupil)
When a light is shined in one eye (left/right) then the pupils in both eyes should constrict (pupillary light reflex). Explain why this is.
Which 2 branches of the facial nerve CN VII carry all of the parasympathetics associated with the facial nerve and where do they arise?
What are the 2 parasympathetic ganglia associated with the facial nerve?
Talk through the following scematic to show the parasympathetic outflow associated with the facial nerve. Why is it important to know this?
If patient presents with facial nerve palsy- ask about probelms with saliva etc as can use this to determine where damage to facial nerve is
Use as revision: Summary of parasympathetic innervation to head and neck structures
Describe the course taken by the parasympathetic nerve associated with CN IX (glossopharyngeal).
Describe the course taken by the parasympathetics associated with the vagus nerve (CN X).
