Autonomics

Question 1

How many neurons are within the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 1

Two - one in cns and one in pns

Question 2

What is an autonomic neuron called within the brain or spinal cord?

Answer 2

Preganglionic neuron

Question 3

What is an autonomic neuron called in the pns?

Answer 3

Postganglionic neuron

Question 4

What does the postganglionic neuron of the autonomic nervous system innervate?

Answer 4

Smooth muscle
Cardiac muscle
Glands

Question 5

The autonomic nervous system is divided into three outflows. What determines the division?

Answer 5

Where the preganglionic fibers leave the central nervous system

Question 6

Which segments are associated with the cranial outflow of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 6

Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Facial nerve (CN VII) 
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Vagus nerve (CN X)

Question 7

Which segments are associated with Thoracolumbar outflow of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 7

Spinal nerves T1-L2/3

Question 8

Which segments are associated with the sacral outflow of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 8

S2-S4

Question 9

Of which division of the autonomic nervous system is the cranial outflow?

Answer 9

Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 10

Of which division of the autonomic nervous system is the Thoracolumbar outflow?

Answer 10

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 11

Of which division of the autonomic nervous system is the sacral outflow?

Answer 11

Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 12

Describe the two similarities between the cranial and sacral outflow.

Answer 12

• *Location of their ganglia

* *Anatomically and pharmacologically similar

Question 13

With what is the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system primarily concerned?

Answer 13

Conserving and restoring energy

Question 14

What is the function of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 14

Expending energy for emergencies and sudden activity

Question 15

What is the relative length of the parasympathetic pre- and post-ganglionic fibers?

Answer 15

Long preganglionic

Short postganglionic

Question 16

What is the ganglia of the parasympathetic division residing in the wall of the gut?

Answer 16

Myenteric
(Auerbach’s)
And submucosal
(Meisner’s)

Question 17

What is the relative length of sympathetic pre- and post ganglionic fibers?

Answer 17

Short preganglionic

Long postganglionic

Question 18

What is the location of the sympathetic trunk?

Answer 18

Anterior to the vertebral extremity of each rib

Question 19

Which fibers of the autonomic nervous system are cholinergic?

Answer 19

All preganglionic fibers

All postganglionic parasympathetic fibers

Question 20

Define cholinergic

Answer 20

Neuron fibers that liberate acetylcholine

Question 21

Which fibers of the autonomic nervous system are adrenergic?

Answer 21

All postganglionic sympathetic fibers

Question 22

Define adrenergic

Answer 22

Neuron fibers that liberate norepinephrine

Question 23

Which postganglionic sympathetic fibers are cholinergic?

Answer 23

Postganglionic sympathetic fibers to sweat glands

Question 24

Which fibers are generally associated with the autonomic nervous system but are not part of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 24

Afferent fibers

Question 25

Which fibers travel almost exclusively with sympathetic nerve fibers of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 25

Visceral pain fibers

Question 26

Which fibers travel almost exclusively with parasympathetic nerve fibers of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 26

Visceral physiological afferent fibers (other than pain)

Question 27

Where are preganglionic cell bodies of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system located?

Answer 27

Lateral horn of spinal cord from T1-L2/3

Question 28

What is the location of the white rami communicates?

Answer 28

Spinal nerves T1-L2/3

Question 29

How many ganglia form the sympathetic chain of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 29

22 pairs:
3 cervical (superior, middle, inferior cervical ganglia)
11 thoracic
4 lumbar
<5 sacrococcygeal

Question 30

What are the four options for sympathetic preganglionic neurons entering the sympathetic trunk?

Answer 30

• Synapse immediately
• Descend in the trunk to synapse at a lower level
• Ascend in the trunk to synapse at a higher level
• Pass directly through the trunk to course as splanchnic nerves

Question 31

What are the three divisions of splanchnic nerves?

Answer 31

Thoracic splanchnic nerves
Lumber splanchnic nerves
Pelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 32

What are the three divisions of thoracic splanchnic nerves and what are the spinal levels associated with each?

Answer 32

Greater splanchnic: T5-T9
Lesser splanchnic nerve: T10-T11
Least splanchnic nerve: T12

Question 33

What are the segments of the lumbar splanchnic nerves?

Answer 33

L1-L2/3

Question 34

What are the levels of the pelvic splanchnic nerves?

Answer 34

S2-S4

Question 35

Of what division of the autonomic nervous system are the thoracic splanchnic nerves?

Answer 35

Sympathetic

Question 36

Of what division of the autonomic nervous system are the lumbar splanchnic nerves?

Answer 36

Sympathetic

Question 37

Of what division of the autonomic nervous system are the pelvic splanchnic nerves?

Answer 37

Parasympathetic