ANS anatomy & physiology 2

Question 1

Which anatomic pattern is characteristic of sympathetic efferent pathways?
a. long preganglionic fibers, long postganglionic fibers
b. long preganglionic fibers, short postganglionic fibers
c. short preganglionic fibers, short postganglionic fibers
d. short preganglionic fibers, long postganglionic fibers

Answer 1

d. short preganglionic fibers, long postganglionic fibers

Question 2

The SNS originates from the

Answer 2

spinal cord levels T1-L2 (L3) and thus is also known as the thoracolumbar division

Question 3

Preganglionic sympathetic neurons exit the spinal cord through

Answer 3

ventral roots

Question 4

Postganglionic sympathetic neurons are distributed from the

Answer 4

relay ganglia through spinal nerves and visceral plexuses

Question 5

Visceral plexuses are usually associated with

Answer 5

major arterial branches of the aorta

Question 6

The characterization of the SNS anatomy is the

Answer 6

short preganglionic, long postganglionic

Question 7

SNS innervation to the ______________ is a direct path from the spinal cord to the tissue with no relay ganglia in this pathway.

Answer 7

adrenal medulla

Question 8

Blockade of the stellate ganglion produces

Answer 8

Horner syndrome

Question 9

Horner syndrome is characterized by

Answer 9

ipsilateral ptosis
miosis
anhidrosis
flushing of the skin
nasal congestion
enophthalmos

Question 10

What is the anatomic organization of the ANS?

Answer 10

Origin: preganglionic nerve cell body (soma)
route to relay: preganglionic axon
Relay: ganglion
distribution: postganglionic axon
Effector (target): tissue or organ

Question 11

In both sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, the origins of ALL preganglionic autonomic neurons lie in

Answer 11

the CNS

Question 12

The cell bodies (soma) of preganglionic sympathetic fibers are located within the

Answer 12

lateral horn of the spinal cord grey matter, specifically within the intermediolateral nucleus

Question 13

The interomediolateral nucleus lies in

Answer 13

Rexed’s lamina 7

Question 14

The PNS division originates in

Answer 14

cranial and sacral regions of the CNS

Question 15

The parasympathetic division is also known as the

Answer 15

craniosacral system

Question 16

The axons of preganglionic sympathetic neurons leave the spinal cord at the

Answer 16

segmental level at which their cell bodies are located

Question 17

White rami exist only at _________ because all preganglionic sympathetic fibers originate from T1-L2

Answer 17

only at T1-L2

Question 18

The somatomotor division arises (origin) in the

Answer 18

ventral horn of the spinal cord (Rexed’s 8 & 9)

Question 19

The axons of some preganglionic sympathetic neurons project ______________ and synapse with a postganglionic sympathetic neuron in a sympathetic trunk relay ganglion at the __________________ of the preganglionic origin

Answer 19

ipsilaterally; at the same cord level

Question 20

Grey rami are found at

Answer 20

all spinal cord levels

Question 21

The axons of some preganglionic neurons travel ______________ or ________________ in the sympathetic trunk (aka sympathetic chain or paravertebral ganglia) to synapse on ipsilateral sympathetic postganglionic nerve cells bodies in sympathetic trunk relay ganglia _________________________________

Answer 21

rostrally (ascend) or caudally (descend); some distance from the cord level of origin

Question 22

A third possible trajectory of preganglionic sympathetic axons is to __________________ without interruption to synapse then on postganglionic sympathetic nerve cells bodies in ___________________ relay ganglia located near abdominal or pelvic visceral targets they innervate

Answer 22

pass through paravertebral ganglia (sympathetic chain or trunk); prevertebral (aka peripheral or collateral)

Question 23

Route 3 to relays preganglionic sympathetic axons (B fibers) traverse uninterrupted through the sympathetic trunk and associate to form

Answer 23

splanchnic nerves

Question 24

The fourth and last route is for the sympathetic preganglionic fibers that project

Answer 24

directly to and terminate on an effector (target)

Question 25

Route 4 has no

Answer 25

synaptic relay

Question 26

The target tissue of the route four relay is

Answer 26

chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla

Question 27

The sympathetic trunks are

Answer 27

bilateral; one on each side of the vertebral column, and run the full length of the column

Question 28

The sympathetic chain ganglia pairs are:

Answer 28

3 cervical (superior, middle, inferior)
11-12 thoracic
3-5 lumbar
3-5 sacral
single coccygeal

Question 29

The stellate (cervicothoracic) ganglion is a combination of the

Answer 29

inferior cervical ganglion and T1 ganglion

Question 30

The lumbar sympathetic ganglia may be blocked temporarily or semi-permanently to treat a variety of disorders including

Answer 30

symptomatic vasospastic disorders; CPRS 1 & 2 of the lower extremity; phantom limb and stump pain
pain from shingles, and acute & chronic renal cholic

Question 31

The thoracic splanchnic nerves consists of:

Answer 31

greater splanchnic nerve arising from T5-T9/T10
lesser splanchnic nerve from T10-T11
Least splanchnic nerve from T12

Question 32

The greater splanchnic nerve of the thoracic splanchnic nerves travels to the

Answer 32

celiac and superior mesenteric ganglia and the prevertebral plexus

Question 33

The lesser splanchnic nerve of the thoracic splanchnic nerve travels to the

Answer 33

celiac, aorticorenal, and superior and inferior mesenteric ganglia and prevertebral plexus

Question 34

The least splanchnic nerve of the thoracic splanchnic nerve projects to the

Answer 34

renal plexus

Question 35

The lumbar splanchnic nerves travel to the

Answer 35

inferior mesenteric ganglion and prevertebral plexus

Question 36

The sacral splanchnic nerves pass from the sacral part of the sympathetic trunk and enter the

Answer 36

inferior hypogastric plexus

Question 37

Pelvic splanchnic nerves are unique in the fact that they are the only splanchnic nerves to carry

Answer 37

parasympathetic fibers

Question 38

The pelvic splanchnic nerves ____________________ from the sympathetic trunks

Answer 38

DO NOT originate

Question 39

The abdominal prevertebral plexus is a collection of plexuses that

Answer 39

surrounds the abdominal aorta

Question 40

The abdominal prevertebral plexus is composed of

Answer 40

celiac plexus and celiac ganglia
superior hypogastric plexus
aortic plexus with superior mesenteric and aorticorenal ganglia

Question 41

Local anesthetic block of the celiac plexus may be used in

Answer 41

acute and chronic pancreatitis or in conjunction with a nerve block of the lower intercostal nerves to produce regional anesthesia for intra-abdominal surgery

Question 42

As a result of divergence and convergence in the ganglia, information from the CNS may be

Answer 42

amplified or reduced and may be wither localized or diversified

Question 43

The intermediolateral nucleus lies within which Rexed’s lamina?

Answer 43

Rexed’s lamina 7

Question 44

Which ganglia are sites for sympathetic synaptic relays?

Answer 44

sympathetic chain ganglia & prevertebral ganglia

Question 45

What is ganglion?

Answer 45

a peripheral collection of nerve cell bodies

Question 46

List the three thoracic splanchnic nerves.

Answer 46

The greater, lesser, and least splanchnic nerves

Question 47

Which plexus may be blocked for relief of pain due to chronic pancreatitis?

Answer 47

celiac plexus