Session 6 - Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

Is the autonomic nervous system part of the central or peripheral nervous system?

Answer 1

Peripheral nervous system

Question 2

What are the general target tissues of autonomics?

Answer 2

Smooth muscle

Glands

Question 3

Where does sympathetic outflow arise from?

Answer 3

Thoracolumbar region (T1-L2) of the spinal cord

Question 4

Sympathetic outflow to the head and neck arises from which spinal segments specifically?

Answer 4

T1/T2 spinal segments

Question 5

Where do preganglionic sympathetic fibres synapse?

Answer 5

The sympathetic chain

Question 6

Preganglionic sympathetic fibres going to the head and neck synapse in which ganglia?

Answer 6

Superior and middle cervical ganglia

Question 7

Describe the route of sympathetic nerves innervating the head and neck.

Answer 7

Sympathetic outflow to the head and neck arises from T1/T2.
Preganglionic sympathetic fibres ascending from the thorax, up the sympathetic chain to reach the neck.
Synapse in one of the upper cervical ganglia (superior or middle cervical ganglia).
Post ganglionic sympathetic fibres hitch hike on blood vessels to reach their target tissues.

Question 8

Post ganglionic sympathetic fibres hitch hike on what structures to reach their target tissues?

Answer 8

Blood vessels (internal and external carotid arteries and their branches)

Question 9

What are the functions of sympathetic nerves to the head and neck?

Answer 9

Pupillary dilation
Assists lid retraction
Sweating
Vasoconstriction

Question 10

What are the effector tissues of sympathetics to the head and neck?

Answer 10

Dilator pupillae
Superior tarsal muscle
Blood vessels
Sweat glands

(Sympathetic nerves also innervate salivary and lacrimal glands, but their effect is to decrease secretions).

Question 11

What pathologies can cause Horner’s syndrome?

Answer 11

Pathology involving the apex of the lung and internal carotid artery.

Question 12

What are the three characteristics of Horner’s syndrome?

Answer 12

Partial ptosis
Miosis (constricted pupil)
Anhydrosis

Question 13

Why does pathology in a lung apex (e.g. cancer) or the internal carotid artery cause Horner’s syndrome?

Answer 13

Causes interruption to sympathetic fibres and therefore autonomic dysfunction in the eye and face.

Question 14

Which cranial nerves ‘carry’ parasympathetic fibres from the brainstem?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

From what four parasympathetic nuclei do parasympathetic fibres arise from?

Answer 15

EDINGER WESTPHAL
Superior salivary
Inferior salivary
Dorsal motor

Question 16

In what four parasympathetic ganglia do the pre ganglionic parasympathetic fibres synapse?

Answer 16

Ciliary
Pterygopalatine
Submandibular
Otic

Question 17

Most post ganglionic sympathetic fibres hitch hike on what cranial nerve?

Answer 17

Trigeminal (CN V)

Question 18

Parasympathetic fibres that run with the oculomotor nerve (CN III) arise from what nucleus?

Answer 18

Edinger Westphal

Question 19

Pre ganglionic parasympathetic fibres running with the oculomotor nerve synapse at what ganglion?

Answer 19

Ciliary ganglion

Question 20

What are the target tissues of post ganglionic parasympathetic fibres arising from the ciliary ganglion?

Answer 20

Sphincter pupillae

Ciliary body

Question 21

Which two main branches of the facial nerve arise inside the petrous bone?

Answer 21

Greater petrosal nerve

Chorda tympani nerve

Question 22

Which two parasympathetic ganglia are associated the facial nerve (CN VII)?

Answer 22

Pterygopalatine

Submandibular

Question 23

Parasympathetic fibres synapsing in the pterygopalatine ganglion are associated with what nerve?

Answer 23

Greater petrosal nerve (branch of CN VII)

Question 24

Parasympathetic fibres synapsing in the submandibular ganglion are associated with what nerve?

Answer 24

Chorda tympani nerve

Question 25

At the point of the geniculate ganglion, what branch of CN VII arises?

Answer 25

Greater petrosal nerve