Sympathetic Viscerosomatic Reflexes (from OMT review 3rd edition table 10.2)

Question 1

Organ:

Head and neck

Answer 1

Spinal Cord Level:

T1-T4

Question 2

Organ:

Heart

Answer 2

Spinal Cord Level:

T1-T5

Question 3

Organ:

Respiratory system

Answer 3

Spinal Cord Level:

T2-T7

Question 4

Organ:

Esophagus

Answer 4

Spinal Cord Level:

T2-T8

Question 5

Organ:

Upper GI tract

• lower 2/3 of esophagus to the ligament of Treitz (aka suspensory ligament of deudenum)

(stomach, liver**, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas/duodenum*)

*pancreas/duodenum are innervated by a mix of the upper & mid GI tract

**liver is also a mix according to Dr. Hayes OPP final review

Answer 5

Spinal Cord Level:

T5-T9

Greater Splanchnic nerves

Celiac Ganglion

Based on embryologic foregut

Question 6

Organ:

Middle GI tract

• ligament of Treitz (aka suspensory ligament of deudenum) to 2/3 transverse colon

(pancreas/duodenum, jejunum, ilium, ascending colon, proximal 2/3 transverse colon)

*pancreas/duodenum are innervated by a mix of the upper & mid GI tract

**liver is also a mix according to Dr. Hayes OPP final review

Answer 6

Spinal Cord Level:

T10-T11

Lesser Splanchnic nerves

Superior Mesenteric Ganglion

Based on embryologic midgut

Question 7

Organ:

Lower GI tract

• distal 1/3 transverse colon to rectum

(distal 1/3 transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum)

Answer 7

Spinal Cord Level:

T12-L2

Least Splanchnic nerves

Inferior Mesenteric Ganglion

Based on embryologic hindgut

Question 8

Organ:

Appendix

Answer 8

Spinal Cord Level:

T12

Question 9

Organ:

Kidneys

Answer 9

Spinal Cord Level:

T10-T11

Superior Mesenteric Ganglion

Question 10

Organ:

Adrenal Medulla

Answer 10

Spinal Cord Level:

T10

Question 11

Organ:

Upper ureters

Answer 11

Spinal Cord Level:

T10-T11

Superior Mesenteric Ganglion

Question 12

Organ:

Lower ureters

Answer 12

Spinal Cord Level:

T12-L1

Inferior Mesenteric Ganglion

Question 13

Organ:

Bladder

Answer 13

Spinal Cord Level:

T11-L2

Trigone contraction*

*Sympathetic nerves from the T11-L2 levels of your spinal cord cause the upper section of the bladder to relax and the bladder neck to contract, ensuring you can store urine.

Question 14

Organ:

Gonads

Answer 14

Spinal Cord Level:

T10-T11

Question 15

Organ:

Uterus and cervix

Answer 15

Spinal Cord Level:

T10-L2

Question 16

Organ:

Erectile tissue of penis/clitoris

Answer 16

Spinal Cord Level:

T11-L2

Sympathetic = “shoot” (ejaculation)

Question 17

Organ:

Prostate

Answer 17

Spinal Cord Level:

T12-L2

Question 18

Organ:

Arms

Answer 18

Spinal Cord Level:

T2-T8

Question 19

Organ:

Legs

Answer 19

Spinal Cord Level:

T11-L2