Sympathetics Part 2

Question 1

Which cervical sympathetic ganglion is the smallest?

Answer 1

middle cervical ganglion

Question 2

Where is the middle cervical ganglion located?

Answer 2

at level of C6

Question 3

T/F: The middle cervical ganglion of the sympathetic trunk carries parasympathetic info.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The middle cervical ganglia communicate with the anterior primary rami of which nerves via the gray rami communicans?

Answer 4

C5 and C6

Question 5

Which glands receive branches directly from the middle cervical ganglion?

Answer 5

thyroid and parathyroid glands

Question 6

What is the primary function of the thyroid branches from the middle cervical ganglion?

Answer 6

primarily vasomotor

Question 7

Cardiac branches from the middle cervical ganglion make up the middle cardiac nerves. What do these nerves contribute to?

Answer 7

the deep part of the cardiac plexus

Question 8

How often does the inferior cervical ganglion fuse with the 1st thoracic ganglion to form the stellate ganglion?

Answer 8

about 80% of the time

Question 9

Where is the inferior cervical ganglion located?

Answer 9

at the level of C7 transverse process and neck of 1st rib

Question 10

Which anterior primary rami does the inferior cervical ganglion communicate with via gray rami communicans?

Answer 10

C7 and C8 (also T1 if fused to form stellate)

Question 11

What are the branches from the inferior cervical ganglion called which travel to the heart?

Answer 11

inferior cardiac nerves

Question 12

What major arteries does the inferior cervical ganglion send branches to form plexuses around?

Answer 12

subclavian artery and its branches, namely axillary and vertebral arteries

Question 13

How many ganglia usually exist in the thoracic area of the sympathetic trunk?

Answer 13

usually 11, sometimes 12

Question 14

How many ganglia are usually in the thoracic area of the sympathetic trunk when the stellate is present and considered a cervical ganglion?

Answer 14

usually 10, sometimes 11

Question 15

T/F: All thoracic nerves have a gray and a white ramus communicans.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

T/F: In the superior thorax, ganglia are located on the lateral aspects of the vertebral bodies.

Answer 16

False; this is true of the lower part of the thorax. In the superior thorax, ganglia are located anterior to the rib heads.

Question 17

Which sympathetic thoracic ganglia travel medially and supply structures in the thoracic cavity?

Answer 17

the upper 5 thoracic ganglia

Question 18

T/F: the branches from the upper five thoracic ganglia carry postganglionic fibers and visceral efferents.

Answer 18

False; postganglionic fibers and visceral afferents

Question 19

How many splanchnic nerves are associated with the lower seven segments of the thoracic sympathetic trunk? What are they?

Answer 19

3; greater splanchnic, lesser splanchnic, and least splanchnic nerves

Question 20

T/F: the splanchnic nerves associated with lower seven segments of the thoracic sympathetic trunk carry fibers to plexuses in the abdominal and pelvic cavities as well as visceral afferent info.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

What splanchnic nerve is formed from the 5th through 9th thoracic ganglia and terminates in the celiac ganglion?

Answer 21

greater splanchnic nerve

Question 22

What splanchnic nerve is formed by the 9th and 10th (or 10th and 11th) thoracic ganglia then ends in the aorticorenal ganglion?

Answer 22

lesser splanchnic nerve

Question 23

Which splanchnic nerve is formed by fibers from the 12th thoracic ganglion and terminates in the renal plexus?

Answer 23

least splanchnic nerve

Question 24

Which part of the sympathetic trunk is considered retroperitoneal?

Answer 24

lumbar (maybe part of the thoracic too)

Question 25

How many lumbar ganglia are usually associated with the sympathetic trunk?

Answer 25

4

Question 26

Which lumbar nerves have a white ramus communicans that carries preganglionic axons into the sympathetic trunk?

Answer 26

the first two, sometimes the third

Question 27

Which lumbar nerves have a gray ramus communicans?

Answer 27

all 5

Question 28

How many lumbar splanchnic nerves carry preganglionic axons to the plexus surrounding the abdominal aorta?

Answer 28

2-4

Question 29

Where are the sacral sympathetic trunks located?

Answer 29

anterior aspect of sacrum medial to the anterior sacral foramina

Question 30

How many ganglia are usually present in the sacral sympathetic trunk?

Answer 30

4, sometimes 5

Question 31

T/F: grey rami communicans are associated with each sacral nerve, but not the coccygeal nerve.

Answer 31

False; present at all spinal nerves

Question 32

What is formed when the two sympathetic trunks meet after descending down the spinal column?

Answer 32

ganglion impar

Question 33

Where is the ganglion impar usually formed?

Answer 33

anterior surface of coccyx