Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

What is the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 1

A portion of the nervous system the controls the functions of the internal organs of the body.

Question 2

What is the autonomic nervous system organised on?

Answer 2

On the basis of the reflex arc.

Question 3

Where are the nerve impulses initiated in In the visceral receptors relayed to?

Answer 3

via afferent fibres

to the CNS and integrated at various levels

Question 4

How are the nerve impulses transmitted?

Answer 4

Via Efferent pathways to visceral effectors

E.g plain muscles, heart, secreting glands.

Question 5

How is the efferent pathways to viscera different from the somatic motor nerves to skeletal muscles?

Answer 5

Because the latter is composed of a single neurone (one neurone system)

While the other is composed of two neurones;
the pre-ganglionic and the pro-ganglionic.
(Two neurone system)

Question 6

Where are the cell bodies of the pre-ganglionic neurones located?

Answer 6

Either

• In the intermedio-lateral horn of the spinal cord.
• the homologous motor nuclei of the cranial nerves

Question 7

What is a ganglion?

Answer 7

A collection of neurones outside the CNS

Question 8

What do the autonomic ganglia contain?

Answer 8

Post-ganglionic neurones.

Question 9

Function of the autonomic ganglia?

Answer 9

They act as disturbing centres.

Question 10

Why do the autonomic ganglia act as distributing centres?

Answer 10

As each pre-ganglionic fibre will synapse with 8-9 post-ganglionic neurones?

Question 11

What is the autonomic nervous system organised on?

Answer 11

On the basis of the reflex arc.

Question 12

Where are the nerve impulses initiated?

Answer 12

In the visceral receptors
and are relayed via afferent fibres
to the CNS

Question 13

How are the nerve impulses transmitted?

Answer 13

Via Efferent pathways to visceral effectors

E.g plain muscles, heart, secreting glands.

Question 14

How is the efferent pathways to viscera different from the somatic motor nerves to skeletal muscles?

Answer 14

Because the latter is composed of a single neurone (one neurone system)

While the other is composed of two neurones;
the pre-ganglionic and the pro-ganglionic.
(Two neurone system)

Question 15

Where are the cell bodies of the pre-ganglionic neurones located?

Answer 15

Either

• In the intermedio-lateral horn of the spinal cord.
• the homologous motor nuclei of the cranial nerves

Question 16

What is a ganglion?

Answer 16

A collection of neurones outside the CNS

Question 17

What do the autonomic ganglia contain?

Answer 17

Post-ganglionic neurones.

Question 18

Function of the autonomic ganglia?

Answer 18

They act as disturbing centres.

Question 19

Why do the autonomic ganglia act as distributing centres?

Answer 19

As each pre-ganglionic fibre will synapse with 8-9 post-ganglionic neurones?

Question 20

What is the autonomic nervous system organised on?

Answer 20

On the basis of the reflex arc.

Question 21

Where are the nerve impulses initiated?

Answer 21

In the visceral receptors
and are relayed via afferent fibres
to the CNS

Question 22

How are the nerve impulses transmitted?

Answer 22

Via Efferent pathways to visceral effectors

E.g plain muscles, heart, secreting glands.

Question 23

How is the efferent pathways to viscera different from the somatic motor nerves to skeletal muscles?

Answer 23

Because the latter is composed of a single neurone (one neurone system)

While the other is composed of two neurones;
the pre-ganglionic and the pro-ganglionic.
(Two neurone system)

Question 24

Where are the cell bodies of the pre-ganglionic neurones located?

Answer 24

Either

• In the intermedio-lateral horn of the spinal cord.
• the homologous motor nuclei of the cranial nerves

Question 25

What is a ganglion?

Answer 25

A collection of neurones outside the CNS

Question 26

What do the autonomic ganglia contain?

Answer 26

Post-ganglionic neurones.

Question 27

Function of the autonomic ganglia?

Answer 27

They act as disturbing centres.

Question 28

Why do the autonomic ganglia act as distributing centres?

Answer 28

As each pre-ganglionic fibre will synapse with 8-9 post-ganglionic neurones?

Question 29

How many types of autonomic ganglia?

Answer 29

There are 3 types.

• Paravertebral sympathetic chain.
• collateral ganglia
• Terminal ganglia

Question 30

Where is the paravertebral sympathetic chain located?

Answer 30

On both sides of the vertebral for each segment of the Spinal cord except the cervical.

Which only has three cervical ganglia
[superior, middle, Inferior]

Question 31

How many types of autonomic ganglia?

Answer 31

There are 3 types.

• Paravertebral sympathetic chain.
• collateral ganglia
• Terminal ganglia

Question 32

Where is the paravertebral sympathetic chain located?

Answer 32

On both sides of the vertebral for each segment of the Spinal cord except the cervical.

Which only has three cervical ganglia
[superior, middle, Inferior]

Question 33

How do the Paravertebral Sympathetic chain Relay?

Answer 33

Only for sympathetic relay.

Question 34

Where is collateral ganglia located?

Answer 34

Present midway between the spinal cord and the viscera.

At origin of big vessels from the abdominal aorta and named according to the vessel.

e.g. Coeliac, Mesenteric

Question 35

How do the collateral ganglia relay?

Answer 35

They relay of lower thoracic and lumbar pre-ganglionic sympathetic fibres.

Question 36

Where are the terminal ganglia located?

Answer 36

Present near or in the viscera organ itself.

Question 37

How do the terminal ganglia relay?

Answer 37

They relay of cranial and the pelvic parasympathetic.

Question 38

How short is the post-ganglionic fibres in terminal ganglia?

Answer 38

Very short, from 1mm to several cms.