Sympathetic Division

Question 1

What is an alternate name for the Sympathetic division?

Answer 1

Thoracolumbar

Question 2

What is the preganglionic neuron and where is it generally located?

Answer 2

Longitudinal Network of cells located in the spinal cord (T1 to L2 levels) called the intermediolateral nucleus in the lateral gray horn (of each of the vertebrae)

Question 3

What is the pahway of a preganglionic neuronal axon ?

Answer 3

Leaves CNS in anterior/ventral root

Enters the spinal nerve and the anterior/ventral primary ramus

Immediately leaves the anterior primary ramus to enter the white communicating ramus (connects to the white communicating ramus)

Question 4

How many pairs of white communicating rami are there?

Answer 4

14 pairs

Question 5

Where are the Postganglionic Sympathetic Neurons located?

Answer 5

Sympathetic Chain/Trunk Ganglia on each side of the vertebral column

Question 6

What does the Symp Chain consist of?

Answer 6

21-23 Ganglia located bilaterally along the sides of the vertebral bodies, linked together by nerve fibers ascending and descending between ganglia

Question 7

How long does the sympathetic chain extend to?

Answer 7

From base of the skull to the coccyx

Question 8

How is the sympathetic chain divided? What is unique about the coccyx division

Answer 8

Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar

Sacral

The 2 chains join together at the coccyx (Ganglion Impar), 2 coccygeal ganglia have fused

Question 9

How do Preganglionic Sympathetic Fibers and Axons enter the CNS?

Answer 9

Throught eh sympathetic Trunk via the White communicating Ramus

Question 10

What are the 4 possible pathwaays of Preganglionic Symp fibers?

Answer 10

Synapse on a postganglionic symp neuron in a chain/trunk at the level they enter

Ascent to a higher level ganglion

Descent to lower chain ganglion

Pass through the Symp Trunk into a splanchnic nerve to synapse in a collateral ganglion

Question 11

What is the Collateral Ganglion associated with?

Answer 11

Large vessels from the abdominal Aorta

Question 12

What is the pathway of postganglionic axons/fibers of postganglionic symp neurons in the chain/trunk ganglia?

Answer 12

Exit the symp chain via the gray communicating rami to the anterior./ventral primary ramus of the spinal nerve

Question 13

What specifically do postganglionic symp neurons innervate?

Answer 13

Sweat Glands

Smooth Muscle cells in blood vessels

Erector pili muscles

All spinal nerves receive a gray communicating ramus since all parts of body have the 3 above things

Question 14

What are Visceral Branches?

Answer 14

Postganglionic axon that travels as an independent nerve branch from the symp trunk

Question 15

How are Visceral Branches named?

Answer 15

They go directly to visceral organs and they are named according to which organ they go to (cardiac symp nerves and esophageal nerves)

Question 16

What is the Superior Cervical ganglion?

Answer 16

The uppermost chain ganglion where some postganglionic sympathetic fibers leave

Question 17

What are the Internal And External Carotid Plexuses?

Answer 17

Neurons from the superior cervical ganglion that run along the carotid arteries for distribution of the head.

Question 18

How do postganglionic axons of Symp neurons exiting the collateral ganglia/prevertebral ganglia exit the ganglion?

Answer 18

Form plexuses around single large branches of the arorta and follow the vessel to innervate smooth muscle

May leave the ganglion as independent visceral branches that enter directly into the hypogastric nerves which innervate pelvic organs