Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

What does the autonomic nervous system innervate?

Answer 1

Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, glands and adipose tissue

Question 2

The sympathetic division of the ANS is also known as what?

Answer 2

The thoracolumbar outflow

Question 3

The parasympathetic division of the ANS is also know as what?

Answer 3

The craniosacral outflow

Question 4

In what part of a spinal cord transverse segment are sympathetic neuronal cell bodies found?

Answer 4

The IML (Intermediolateral) Cell Column (in the lateral horn)

Question 5

Sympathetic cell bodies are found in the vertebral column between what vertebral bodies?

Answer 5

T1 and L2

Question 6

What are the three places where preganglionic sympathetic fibers can synapse?

Answer 6

1) A paravertebral ganglion in the sympathetic chain, 2) A prevertebral ganglion, or 3) On chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla

Question 7

What is abnormal about chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla amongst postganglionic sympathetic cells?

Answer 7

They release their contents into bloodstream instead of onto target organ (also they are not located in paravertebral or prevertebral ganglia)

Question 8

How do sympathetic cells that synapse in prevertebral ganglia get there?

Answer 8

By passing through a paravertebral ganglion without synapsing (and then traveling through a splanchnic nerve)

Question 9

What relays nerve fibers from paravertebral ganglia to prevertebral ganglia?

Answer 9

Splanchnic nerves

Question 10

What are the four things a preganglionic sympathetic cell can do once entering the sympathetic chain?

Answer 10

1) Ascend the chain and synapse in a higher paravertebral ganglion, 2) Descend the chain and synapse in a lower paravertebral ganglion, 3) Synapse in the ganglion at its level, 4) Continue through a splanchnic nerve (usually to a prevertebral ganlgion)

Question 11

Do splanchnic nerves innervate skeletal muscle, viscera, both or neither?

Answer 11

Viscera

Question 12

Is a splanchnic nerve which is carrying postganglionic sympathetic fibers carrying neurons that have synapsed in a prevertebral ganglion or not?

Answer 12

Yes, they have synapsed (you know this because you were told it was POSTganglionic)

Question 13

Which cranial nerves carry parasympathetic neurons out of the brainstem (give numbers and names)?

Answer 13

Oculmotor (3), Facial (7), Glossopharyngeal (9), Vagus (10)

Question 14

How do sacral parasympathetic neurons exit the spinal cord?

Answer 14

Ventral rami of spinal nerves S2, S3, S4, and then branch to form pelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 15

Give the four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and which cranial nerve targets each

Answer 15

Otic (CN9), Submandibular (CN7), Pterygopalatine (CN7), Ciliary (CN3)

Question 16

Where do parasympathetic preganglionic neurons that do not synapse on a ganglion in the head synapse?

Answer 16

On a postganglionic neuron in or near the wall of the target organ

Question 17

What type of nerve fibers do the pelvic splanchnic nerves carry?

Answer 17

Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers which will synapse in or near the wall of the organ they innervate

Question 18

Are postganglionic cells myelinated or unmyelinated?

Answer 18

Unmyelinated