Lecture 13. Autonomic system

Question 1

Where is the center of the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 1

T1-L2 of the spinal cord

Question 2

Where is the prevertebral column located

Answer 2

abodominal cavity, in front of vertebrae column

Question 3

Where are the 2 centers for the parasympathetic nuclei?

Answer 3

1. brain stem ( CN 3, 7,9,10)

2. spinal cord lateral horn S2-S4

Question 4

What is the difference between the parasympathetic and sympathetic ganglia

Answer 4

The parasympathetic ganglia has a postsynaptic neuron that is embedded or close to the target visceral organ, while the sympathetic ganglia has a postsynaptic neuron closer to the vertebrae ( have a long post-synaptic neuron)

Question 5

What is the general name for the parasympathetic fibers close to the organs

Answer 5

visceral ganglia

Question 6

What is the target of the parasympathetic fibers in CN 3. What is the effect of the target organ

Answer 6

pupil muscles, preganglianic fibers of CN3 happens at the level of the ciliary ganglia ( ganglia sits inside the orbit), which targets the ciliary muscle - constricts pupil.

Question 7

What are the 2 parasympathetic ganglia of CN7. What do they do

Answer 7

1. pterygopalatine ganglion ( junction between pterygoid process and palatine bone): close to back of nasal cavity. post ganglion targets the nasal cavity and lacrimal gland.
2. submandibular ganglion: (below the mandible bone). It innervates the salivary gland : the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands

Question 8

What is the parasympathetic nucleus associated with CN9.

Answer 8

Otic ganglion, it is the base of the cranium ( outside the foramen ovale)

Question 9

Where is the otic ganglion located

Answer 9

Outside the foramen ovale , base of cranium. It regulates the parotid gland

Question 10

What is the name of the visceral gangla close to the

1. heart
2. lung

Answer 10

cardiac ganglion

pulmonary ganglion

Question 11

What is present in the cardiac or pulmonary plexus

Answer 11

both parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers are present in the plexus

Question 12

What kind of sympathetic fibers and parasympathetic fibers ( pre or post) do you expect to see in a plexus

Answer 12

post-ganglionic/synaptic sympathetic fibers

pre-synaptic/ganglionic parasympathetic fibers

Question 13

What organs do the vagus supply

Answer 13

heart, lung, liver and gall bladder, first 1/2 of the large intestine, stomach, pancrease

Question 14

What does the pelvic splanchnic nerves innervate

Answer 14

rectum, latter 1/2 of the spinal cord, urninary bladder, uterus, genitalia ( basically all the pelvic viscera)

Question 15

What segments of the spinal cord give rise to the cardiac plexus ( it is an autonomic plexus)

Answer 15

T1-T4 give rise to sympathetic fibers that will do their synapses and will go to the cardiac plexus. It also gets fibers from the parasympathetic fibers from CN 10.

Question 16

What do you call plexus which have both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve

Answer 16

autonomic plexus

Question 17

What gives rise to the thoracic splanchnic nerves ( greater+ lesser splanchnic)

Answer 17

T5-T12.

Question 18

Where do the thoracic splanchnic nerve pass through

Answer 18

Need to pass through diaphragm to go to abdomen

Question 19

Which of the following is/are autonomic plexus:
-superior mesenteric plexus
inferior mesenteric plexus
celiac plexus
lumbar and sacral splanchnic nerve

Answer 19

All autonomic plexus : have parasym and symp plexus

Question 20

What does the celiac plexus innervate

Answer 20

liver, spleen, stomach, pancrease

Question 21

What does the superior mesenteric plexus supply

Answer 21

Small intestine

Question 22

What does the inferior mesenteric plexus supply

Answer 22

Large intestine

Question 23

What spinal cord segments form the lumbar and sacral splanchnic nerve

Answer 23

L1-L2 spinal cord segments

Question 24

What does the lumbar and sacral splanchnic nerve give rise to

Answer 24

superior hypogastric plexus

inferior hypogastirc plexus

Question 25

What does the superior and inferior hypogastric plexus innervate

Answer 25

Both supply pelvic viscera

superior hypogastric also innervates distal end of the descending colon