Anatomy of the ANS

Question 1

Pelvic Splanchnics

Answer 1

• Hindgut and pelvic organs
• Lateral horn of S2-S4
• Exit via ventral rami

Question 2

Vagus Nerve and Vagus Nerve Pathway

Answer 2

Thoracic organs, abdominal organs − Foregut thru midgut

Terminal ganglia found in walls of organs

Question 3

Typical Spinal Nerve

Answer 3

Question 4

Visceromotor effector organs dependence on ANS nerves

Answer 4

• Visceromotor effector organs do not need the ANS to function
• If the autonomic nerves are cut the organ will not work as well
  
  • – Pacemaker cells have intrinsic beat of 100 bpm
  • – Parasympathetic lowers rate to 70- 80bpm

Question 5

Splanchnic Nerves

Answer 5

• Ultimate target is to organs
• Exit anteriorly from sympathetic chain
• Named after part of chain (thoracic, lumbar, etc )

Question 6

Collateral Ganglia and Autonomic Plexuses

Answer 6

• AKA prevertebral
• Anterior surface of aorta
• Postganglionic cell bodies
• Found in thorax and abdomen
• Autonomic plexuses follow blood vessels to their destinations

Question 7

Sympathetic Pathway Patterns

Question 8

Sympathetic Pathway to Thoracic Organs

Answer 8

Targets: heart and lungs

ASCEND in chain to cervical levels

T1-T6

cervical splanchnic nerve

to cardiopulmonary plexus

Question 9

Sympathetic Pathway to Adrenal Medulla

Answer 9

T8-L1

Target: chromaffin cells

Question 10

Sympathetic Chain

Answer 10

• AKA sympathetic trunk
• Runs length of vertebral column
• Sympathetic chain ganglia have postganglionic cell bodies

Question 11

Sympathetic Pathway to Skin and Limbs

Answer 11

Targets: Sweat glands, arrector pili muscles and blood vessels

Question 12

Sympathetic Pathways Summary

Destinations, Entrance, route in chain, exit, postganglionic cell bodies

Answer 12

Question 13

Sympathetic Division of ANS

Answer 13

“Thoraco-lumbar”

Preganglionic cell bodies located from T1-L2

Lateral horn of gray matter

Question 14

Parasympathetic Division

Answer 14

• “Craniosacral”
• − Brainstem
• − Lateral horn of sacral spinal cord levels 2, 3 and 4
• − Organs only
• − Terminal ganglia
  
  • Near target organ or in organ wall

Question 15

Communicating Rami of Sympathetic Chain

Answer 15

White − IN to the sympathetic chain − Preganglionic fibers only − T1-L2 only

Gray − OUT of the sympathetic chain − Postganglionic fibers only − All spinal nerves

Question 16

ANS divisions summary chart: sympathetic vs. parasympathetic

origin, destination, fiber length, location of ganglia, divergence, postganglionic neurotransmitter

Answer 16

Question 17

Identify:

right vagus

left vagus

esophageal plexus

anterior vagal trunk

cardopulmonary plexus

Answer 17

Question 18

Targets of the Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 18

• cardiac muscle
• glands
• smooth muscle

Question 19

Types of Information in the Nervous System

Answer 19

Somatic (Limbs and Skin)

• motor (outgoing)
• sensory (incoming)

Visceral (organs and glands)

• motor (outgoing) – visceromotor (autonomic)
• sensory (incoming)

Question 20

Comparing Somatic Motor Innervation to Autonomic Innervation: control, target, pathway, myelination, effect

Answer 20

Question 21

Parasympathetics in the Head

Question 22

SNS vs PSNS :

Origin Destination Fiber length Location of ganglia Divergence Neurotransmitter

Answer 22

Question 23

Identify:

Ventral Ramus

Communicating Rami

Sympathetic Chain Ganglion

Sympathetic Chain

Greater Thoracic Splanchnic Nerve

Answer 23

Question 24

Autonomic Dysreflexia

Answer 24

a syndrome in which there is a sudden onset of excessively high blood pressure. It is more common in people with spinal cord injuries that involve the thoracic nerves of the spine or above (T6 or above).

Blood pressure remains elevated until noxious stimulus removed

Emergency treatment necessary

Question 25

Sympathetic Pathway to Abdominal Organs

Answer 25

T5-T12

Targets: digestive system, liver, kidneys

Greater (T5-T9) Lesser (T9-T10) Least (T12)