Anatomy of the ANS Flashcards
Where are the preganglionic neurons of the Sympathetic division located?
Thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord
Two types of sympathetic ganglia
Sympathetic chain ganglia
Collateral ganglia
Where are the Sympathetic chain ganglia located
alongside the vertebral column, with origination in the thoracic and lumbar region but extension into cervical and sacral regions
Where are the Collateral ganglia located?
abdominopelvic cavity; anterior to the vertebral column
White ramus communicans
short connection between a spinal nerve and sympathetic chain ganglion where a preganglion axon passes
4 exit routes for sympathetic axons
1) Spinal nerves
2) Sympathetic nerves
3) Splanchnic nerves
4) Innervation to adrenal gland
Adrenal medulla
Where axons of sympathetic division exit and synapse for innervation to the adrenal gland.
It is the inner portion of the adrenal gland that gives rise to the postganglionic cells of the ANS.
cells are round, no axons or dendrites, and secrete either epinephrine or norepinephrine
Parasympathetic division
Craniosacral division - cell bodies of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons are either in cranial nerve nuclei in the brain stem or sacral region
Which cranial nerves are parasympathetic axons in?
III, VII, IX, X
Pelvic splanchnic nerves
Axons of the parasympathetic division associated with the sacral region
Terminal ganglia
Where preganglionic axons synapse with postganglionic neurons
Autonomic nerve plexuses
complex, interconnected neural networks formed by neurons of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
4 distributions of the sympathetic nervous division
1) Spinal nerves
2) Head and neck nerve plexuses
3) Thoracic nerve plexuses
4) Abdominopelvic nerve plexuses
Two plexuses of the thoracic nerve plexus or the sympathetic nervous division
Cardiac plexus > heart
Pulmonary plexus > lungs
Celiac plexus
Innervates diaphragm, stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, adrenal glands, kidney, testes, and ovaries
