Intro to the Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

Parasympathetic nervous system distribution vs sympathetic

Answer 1

Parasympathetic-Limited to head, neck and trunk viscera, never in the body wall or extremities
Sympathetic- distributes to all vascular areas of the body

Question 2

Glandular secretion controlled by

Answer 2

Parasympathetic nervous system, except sweat glands, the sympathetic nervous system can indirectly decrease non-sweat glandular secretion through vasoconstriction

Question 3

Vasoconstriction controlled by

Answer 3

Sympathetic nervous system, except coronary artery

Question 4

Typically parasympathetic stimulation is

Answer 4

Anabolic, normal function and energy conservation

Question 5

Visceral distribution of Thoracolumbar T1-L2 sympathetic division supply what

Answer 5

Innervation to visceral structures; organs of the trunk
Heart, Lungs
Liver, Gallbladder
GI tract, Spleen 
Pancreas
Kidneys
Reproductive organs

Question 6

Presynaptic fibers of thoracolumbar visceral sympathetic division

Answer 6

They are short
Cell bodies in lateral horn of spinal cord
Always travel in anterior root
Always travel into anterior ramus
Quickly exit anterior ramus and enter paravertebral ganglia

Question 7

Synaptic options for presynaptic fibers of thoracolumbar visceral sympathetic division

Answer 7

They can enter paravertebral ganglion and synapse on postsynaptic neuron in same spinal level, or ascend or descend to postsynaptic neuron in different level, or exit PV ganglion without synapsing and continue on through an abdominopelvic splanchnic nerve on their way to a postsynaptic neuron in prevertebral ganglion

Question 8

Postsynaptic fibers

Answer 8

Long

Cell bodies in paravertebral or prevertebral ganglia

Question 9

Paravertebral ganglia

Answer 9

Linked vertically to form sympathetic trunks on either side of the vertebral column, three ganglia also exist in the cervical, lumbar and pelvic regions

Question 10

Prevertebral ganglia

Answer 10

Surround the main unpaired branches of abdominal aorta

• Celiac ganglion
• Superior mesenteric ganglion
• Aorticorenal ganglion
• Inferior mesenteric ganglion

Question 11

Parietal distribution supplies

Answer 11

Sympathetic innervation to smooth muscle of skin and blood vessels, sweat glands

Question 12

Synaptic options for parietal distribution of presynaptic fibers in trunk vs head/neck/upper extremity

Answer 12

For trunk distribution: PS fibers can enter paravertebral ganglion and synapse at same level
For head, neck and upper extremity, PS fibers enter paravertebral ganglion at their own level then ascend to synapse on a postsynaptic neuron in the cervical sympathetic trunk

Question 13

Synaptic options for parietal distribution of presynaptic fibers for perineum and lower extremity

Answer 13

PS fibers enter the paravertebral ganglion at their own level and then descend to synapse on a post synaptic neuron in the abdominal and sacral sympathetic trunk

Question 14

Post synaptic fibers of parietal distribution- cell bodies exist where and exit that space through what

Answer 14

Paravertebral ganglia, exit via gray rami communicantes back into the somatic nerve

Question 15

Path/trunk distribution of post synaptic fibers in back/posterior

Answer 15

Follow posterior rami of spinal nerves to innervate smooth muscle/sweat glands of back

Question 16

Path/distribution of post synaptic fibers in anterior/lateral trunk

Answer 16

Follow anterior rami of spinal nerves, which for the trunk are the intercostal, thoracoabdominal and subcostal nerves

Question 17

Post synaptic parietal fibers distribution in head and face

Answer 17

Fibers follow carotid nerves and enter carotid periarterial plexus

Question 18

Post synaptic parietal fiber distribution in posterior neck

Answer 18

Follow posterior rami such as suboccipital, greater and least occipital

Question 19

Post synaptic parietal fiber distribution in anterior neck/upper extremity

Answer 19

Follow anterior rami of spinal nerves which for neck make up the cervical plexus and for upper extremity make up brachial plexus

Question 20

Post synaptic parietal fiber distribution in buttocks

Answer 20

Fibers follow posterior rami of spinal nerves called cluneal nerves

Question 21

Post synaptic parietal fiber distribution in perineum and lower extremity

Answer 21

Follow anterior rami of spinal nerves which make up lumbar and sacral plexuses

Question 22

Parasympathetic nervous system consists of which nerves

Answer 22

Craniosacral CN III (oculomotor), VII (facial), IX (glossopharyngeal) and X (vagus), S2-4

Question 23

Presynaptic fibers of PNS

Answer 23

Long
Nuclei in brain stem and sacral spinal levels
Cranial component exits as cranial nerves
Sacral components exit spinal levels as pelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 24

Post synaptic fibers of PNS

Answer 24

Usually short, with ganglia/postsynaptic neurons near or in the target organ

Question 25

Ciliary ganglion receives fibers from

Answer 25

Oculomotor nerve CN III

Question 26

Pterygopalatine ganglion receives fibers from

Answer 26

Facial nerve CN VII

Question 27

Submandibular ganglion receives fibers from

Answer 27

Facial nerve CN VII

Question 28

Otic ganglion receives fibers from

Answer 28

Glossopharyngeal nerve CN IX

Question 29

Intrinsic parasympathetic ganglia

Answer 29

These are postsynaptic parasympathetic cell bodies located in the walls of target organs

Question 30

Autonomic plexuses

Answer 30

Typically mixed sympathetic/parasympathetic plexuses that travel on the vasculature to carry the postsynaptic (for sympathetic division) and presynaptic (for parasympathetic division) to the target organ

Question 31

Plexuses located in the thorax

Answer 31

Pulmonary
Cardiac
Aortic
Esophageal

Question 32

Plexuses located in the abdomen

Answer 32

Celiac
Hepatic
Superior mesenteric
Renal
Intermesenteric
Inferior mesenteric
Superior hypogastric

Question 33

Plexuses located in the pelvis

Answer 33

Inferior hypogastric (pelvic) plexus
Vesical plexus
Uterovaginal plexus
Prostatic plexus