ANATOMY OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Question 1

Where are the 3 places where major autonomic ganglia are found?

Answer 1

Sympathetic:
Sympathetic chain/ trunk - including the pre-aortic and cervical ganglia

Parasympathetic:
- Ciliary
- Otic
- Submandibular
- Pterygopalatine
- Intramural ganglia - within the walls of the target organ

Question 2

Where are cervical ganglia found (sympathetic)

Answer 2

On either side of the neck

Question 3

What are the 3 types of cervical ganglia, which vertebral level are they at and what structure do they supply?

Answer 3

Superior cervical ganglia
- C2/C3
- Pupil dilation and inhibition of saliva

Middle cervical ganglia
- C6
- Innervate thyroid gland, trachea, Oesophagus, heart

Inferior cervical ganglia
- C7/T1
- Innervate upper limb

Question 4

Where are the nerves that supply the cervical ganglia?

Answer 4

They are in the thoracic region of the spine and they travel upwards to supply the cervical ganglia

Question 5

Give 3 types of pre-aortic/ pre-vertebral /abdominal ganglia

Answer 5

• Coeliac
• Superior Mesenteric
• Inferior medenteric

Question 6

Which nerves supply the abdominal ganglion?

Answer 6

Sphlancnic nerves

Question 7

Explain convergence and divergence in relation to routes in the sympathetic chain

Answer 7

Divergence - multiple pre-ganglionic neurones can supply and synapse with one post-ganglionic neurone

Convergence - One pre-ganglionic neurone supplies multiple post ganglionic neurones

Question 8

Name the 4 parasympathetic ganglia found on each side of the head and which CN they are supplied by

Answer 8

• Otic - Glossopharyngeal
• Ciliary - Oculomotor
• Pterygopalatine - Facial
  -Submandibular - Facial

Question 9

What are the pelvic splanchnic nerves?

Answer 9

Preganglionic (presynaptic) parasympathetic nerve fibres that arise from the S2, S3 and S4 nerve roots of the sacral plexus

Question 10

Which body parts do the pelvic splanchnic nerves innervate

Answer 10

• Rectum
• Erectile tissue of the penis
• Clitoris
• Vagina

Question 11

What two things does the enteric nervous system control?

Answer 11

• Peristalsis (moving food through digestive tract)
• Glandular secretion

Question 12

Which two nerves are responsible for parasympathetic innervation of the enteric nervous system?

Answer 12

• Vagus nerve
• Pelvic splanchnic nerves S2-S4

Question 13

Which nerves are responsible for sympathetic innervation of the enteric nervous system?

Answer 13

Thoracic and lumbar splanchnic nerves T1-L2

Pre-aortic/ abdominal nerves:
- Coeliac ganglion
- Superior mesenteric ganglion
- Inferior mesenteric ganglion

Question 14

Names of the two plexi in the enteric nervous system

Answer 14

• Myenteric plexus - peristalsis
• Submucosal plexus - glandular secretion