Autonomic Innervation Flashcards
Where do sympathetic preganglionic fibres arise and synapse?
Arise in the first thoracic neural segment
Synapse in either the superior, middle or inferior Cervical Sympathetic Ganglia
Describe the location of the sympathetic trunk
ANTEROLATERAL to the vertebral column
Lying on the prevertebral fascia and muscles
Deep to the carotid sheath
How do the sympathetic post ganglionic fibres travel?
Become the internal and external carotid nerves
Travel along blood vessels to target tissues
Where do sympathetic post ganglionic fibres from the superior cervical ganglion travel to?
The Pharyngeal Plexus
Upper 4 Cervical Nerves
Cardiac Plexus (as the cardiac branch)
Which artery do post ganglionic fibres from the superior cervical ganglion travel along?
Internal and external carotid arteries
Where do post ganglionic fibres from the Middle Cervical Ganglion travel to?
The 5th and 6th Cervical Nerves
Cardiac branch to the cardiac plexus
Which artery do post ganglionic fibres from the middle cervical ganglion travel along?
Inferior thyroid artery
Where do post ganglionic fibres from the inferior cervical ganglion travel to?
The 7th and 8th Cervical nerves
Cardiac branch to the cardiac plexus
Which artery do post ganglionic fibres from the inferior cervical ganglion travel along?
Vertebral artery
What is the Stellate ganglion?
Combination of the inferior cervical ganglion and 1st thoracic ganglion. Occurs in 80% of population
Name the 4 pairs of parasympathetic ganglia in the head
Ciliary ganglion
Pterygopalatine ganglion
Submandibular ganglion
Otic ganglion
Which 4 cranial nerves have brainstem nuclei?
CN III- oculomotor
CN VII- facial
CN IX- glossopharyngeal
CN X- vagus
Which 3 cranial nerves have branches that reach the ganglia?
Oculomotor -> ciliary ganglion
Facial -> ppterygoplatine/ submandibular ganglion
Glossopharyngeal -> otic ganglion
The vagus nerve doesn’t have discrete ganglia
How do the parasympathetic preganglionic fibres of the cranial nerves with brainstem nuclei pass?
Synapse either in the 4 ganglia or in the walls of the organs they supply in the neck, thorax and abdomen
What do the 4 ganglia do in terms of the parasympathetic, sympathetic and somatic nerve fibres?
Contain parasympathetic synapses
Give uninterrupted passage to sympathetic and somatic fibres
Where is the Ciliary ganglion?
In the orbital cavity, lateral to the optic nerve
What fibres are found in the ciliary ganglion?
Parasympathetic from the oculomotor nerve (CN III) to the sphincter papillae and ciliary muscles
Sympathetic from the superior cervical ganglion via the plexus on the Opthalmic artery, distributed to the eye ball
Sensory fibres from eyeball pass to nasociliary nerve
Where is the Pterygopalatine ganglion?
In the Pterygopalatine fossa, connected to the maxillary nerve (CN V2) by small branches
What fibres are found in the Pterygopalatine ganglion?
Parasympathetic from the facial nerve (CN VIII) via the greater pterosal nerve to the lacrimal glands and glands of the nose, pharynx and nasopharynx
Sympathetic from the Superior Cervical Ganglion via the plexus on the internal carotid artery. Distributed to the nose, palate and nasopharynx
Sensory fibres from the nose, palate and nasopharynx pass to the maxillary nerve (CN V2)
Where is the submandibular ganglion?
Suspended from the lingual nerve by small branches
What fibres are found in the submandibular ganglion?
Parasympathetic fibres from the facial nerve (CN VII) via the Chorda Tympani, then the Lingual nerve. Supplies the submandibular and sublingual glands and other glands on the floor of the oral cavity.
Sympathetic fibres from the superior cervical ganglion along the facial artery, passing to glands in the floor of the oral cavity
Taste fibres may pass through
What fibres does the otic ganglion contain?
Parasympathetic fibres from the glossopharyngeal nerve via then auriculotemporal nerve to the parotid gland
Sympathetic fibres from the superior cervical ganglion travelling along the Middle Meningeal artery passing into the parotid gland.
Motor branches from the mandibular nerve (CN V3) pass through
What causes Horner’s syndrome?
Interruption of a cervical sympathetic trunk
What are the consequences of Horner’s syndrome?
Absence of sympathetically stimulated functions on the ipsilateral side of the head.
Miosis- constriction of the pupil because sphincter pupillae is unopposed
Ptosis- drooping of superior eyelid due to superior tarsal muscle paralysis
Vasodilation
Anhydrosis- absence of sweating
