Thoracic Cavity Neuroanatomy and The Autonomic System

Question 1

What types of neurons transmit impulses to the CNS?

Answer 1

sensory neurons

Question 2

What types of neurons transmit impulses away from the CNS?

Answer 2

motor neurons

Question 3

What types of neurons conduct impulses from sensory to motor neurons?

Answer 3

association neurons (interneurons)

Question 4

The dorsal root is formed by _______ ________.

Answer 4

sensory neurons

Question 5

The ventral root is formed by ______ ________.

Answer 5

motor neurons

Question 6

Somatic motor neurons always innervate?

Answer 6

skeletal m

Question 7

autonomic neurons always innervate?

Answer 7

smooth m, cardiac m, and glands

Question 8

What is the motor nerve to the diaphragm?

Answer 8

phrenic n

Question 9

When performing a pericardectomy what should one watch for?

Answer 9

phrenic n

Question 10

When performing an incision in the ics what should one avoid?

Answer 10

caudal side of rib due to VAN running along there

Question 11

What is the responses of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 11

flight, fight, fright

Question 12

What is the responses of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 12

rest and digest

Question 13

Does parasympathetic or sympathetic go to the body wall?

Answer 13

only sympathetic reaches body wall, parasympathetic only supplies visceral structures

Question 14

What is the parasympathetic innervation within the thorax?

Answer 14

vagus nerve

Question 15

Which is longer the left or right vagus nerve?

Answer 15

left

Question 16

Where do the Doral and ventral vagal trunks run through?

Answer 16

esophageal hiatus

Question 17

What can occur if the lnn. is enlarged and presses on the esophagus and dorsal vagal nerve trunk?

Answer 17

this can lead to bloat and vagal indigestion

Question 18

At the level of the larynx the left recurrent laryngeal nerve becomes?

Answer 18

caudal laryngeal n

Question 19

Why is there more commonly damage to the left recurrent laryngeal n then the right one?

Answer 19

the left has close proximity to the aorta where it may be damaged by the pulsing artery, as well as close proximity to the thracheobronchial lnn and if enlarged it can cause nerve damage