Anatomy - Nerves + Pain Flashcards
‘Thoracolumbar outflow’ refers to the pattern of outflow of sympathetic nerve fibres. What levels of the spine does this refer to?
How does sympathetic fibres reach each level of the body wall (somatic)?
How do sympathetic fibres reach visceral organs?
How do they reach head and neck?
Thoracolumbar outflow = T1-L2
The fibres once left the spinal cord join sympathetic chains on either side of the spinal cord and then the fibres leave again to all levels
Leave spinal cord and form splanchnic nerves
Form a plexus over the arteries going to head and neck
From what spinal level do sympathetic nerve fibres come from that supply the urinary system?
T10-L2
Where do the presynaptic sympathetic nerve fibres synapse?
Describe their journey to synapse from the sympathetic chain.
How do they then travel to organs post synapse?
Abdominal sympathetic ganglia located around abdo aorta
Travel along abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves
Travel on surface of arteries
There is only parasympathetic innervation of smooth muscles/glands of body wall. T/F?
F - only sympathetic
Match the following:
- Vagus nerve
- Pelvic splanchnic nerve
- Bladder
- Kidneys
- Ureter
Vagus nerve
- kidneys
- ureter
Pelvic splanchnic
- bladder
What spinal nerves do the pelvic splanchnic nerve originate from?
S2,3,4
- keeps poo, pee and penis off the floor
Where would a patient complain of kidney pain?
‘loin’ - over where the kidneys lie
Where would pain from ureters be felt?
Enter within T11-L2
Loin region and into groin = “loin to groin” pain
Where would pain from bladder be felt?
Suprapubic pain
How would pain from urethra feel?
Proximal (above levator ani) = visceral pain
Distal = somatic (well localised) pain
What nerves are responsible for relaying that the bladder is too full?
Visceral afferent
Feed into S2,S3,S4
Is it sympathetic or parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for urination?
Parasympathetic
