Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

Visceral neurons innervate

Answer 1

organs, glands, involuntary muscle tissues (smooth and cardiac)

Question 2

The autonomic NS consists of __ neurons only

Answer 2

VE

autonomic happens unconsciously so no sensory involved (no VA!)

Question 3

2 systems of the ANS

Answer 3

sympathetic, parasympathetic

Question 4

VE neurons are specific to the neurons of the ___

Answer 4

ANS

Question 5

__ neurons return viscerosensory information from organs, glands, and involuntary muscles to the CNS

Answer 5

VA

Question 6

4 rules of visceral neurons

Answer 6

1. either VE or VA
2. VE are part of the ANS
3. VA are simply VA
4. VE neurons form 2 pathways (pre, post)

Question 7

VA and VE are part of the sympathetic and parasympathetic NS. T/F

Answer 7

F; only VE

VA is simply visceral neuron

Question 8

preganglionic neuron is located in ___

Answer 8

CNS

Question 9

VE/VA neurons are pre and post ganglionic

Answer 9

VE

Question 10

postganglionic neuron is found in ___

Answer 10

PNS

Question 11

4 examples of VE neurons found in the 2 pathways of the ANS

Answer 11

VE sym/pre
VE sym/post
VE para/pre
VE para/post

Question 12

Sympathetic NS:
location of preganglionic neurons

(VE sym/pre)

Answer 12

CNS; LATERAL grey horn T1-L2 spinal cord segment

Question 13

Sympathetic NS:

2 places postganglionic neurons are found

(VE sym/post)

Answer 13

sympathetic chain

sympathetic ganglia (abdomen)

Question 14

VE sym/pre aka

Answer 14

Thoracolumbar outflow

Question 15

sympathetic NS has __ preganglionic fibers and __ postganglionic fibers

Answer 15

short pre

long post

Question 16

VE sym/pre
VE sym/post

which is long and short

Answer 16

short

long

Question 17

__ __ serves as a highway for sympathetic fibers to reach areas above and below __

Answer 17

sympathetic chain, T1-L2

Question 18

Single ganglion where sympathetic chain join together at the coccyx

Answer 18

ganglion impar

Question 19

what type of neuron is found in ganglia of sympathetic chain?

Answer 19

VE sym/post (cell bodies)

Question 20

Location of cell bodies:

VE sym/pre
VE sym/post

Answer 20

pre: lateral grey horn
post: sympathetic chan, sympathetic ganglia

Question 21

Trajectory of VE sym/pre scenario 1

Answer 21

lateral grey horn -> ventral root -> spinal nerve -> ventral ramus -> white ramus -> sympathetic chain -> grey ramus -> (back to) spinal nerve -> dorsal/ventral ramus -> target

Question 22

Where are white rami found?

Answer 22

only in VE sym/pre of T1-L2

Question 23

white rami is in between

Answer 23

ventral ramus, sympathetic chain

Question 24

VE sym/pre reach sympathetic chain: 4 scenarios?

Answer 24

1) synapse with post at sympathetic chain and target T1-L2 destinations
2) synapse with post at sympathetic chain and target above and below T1-L2
3) synapse with post at sympathetic chain, enter splanchnic nerve and target thoracic organs
4) descend, enter thoacic splanchnic nerves, and synapse VE sym/post in sympathetic ganglia (not chain)

Question 25

VE sym/post fibers enter via __ --> sympathetic chain --> exit via __

Answer 25

white ramus, grey ramus

Question 26

For scenario #3 of VE sym/post trajectory, fibers exit the sympathetic chain as __ nerve, which target 3 areas in the thorax

Answer 26

splanchnic (organ) nerve; | heart, respiratory tract, esophagus

Question 27

Full trajectory of #3 VE sym/post trajectory

Answer 27

sympathetic chain -> grey ramus -> dorsal/ventral rami -> visceral plexus -> target organ

Question 28

Define visceral plexus. symp/para/ or both?

Answer 28

network of visceral neuron fibers; almost always both

Question 29

Scenario 4 of VE sym/post target organs in:

Answer 29

abdomen or pelvis

Question 30

how is Scenario 4 of VE sympathetic trajectory different from other 3? (lower body)

Answer 30

3: synapse at sympathetic chain -> enter splanchic nerve -> organs of thorax + 1/3 upper abdomen 4: pass sympathetic chain -> enter thoracic splanchnic nerve -> abdomen -> synapse at pre-aortic ganglia -> visceral plexus -> target (1/3 lower abdomen, pelvis)

Question 31

Trajectory of VE sympathetic trajectory to head

Answer 31

VE sym/PRE fibers travel to top of the sympathetic chain and synapse at the superior cervical ganglion

Question 32

Adrenal glands are ONLY innervated by __ NS.

Answer 32

sympathetic

Question 33

Adrenal glad releases __ via __ NS.

Answer 33

epinephrine (adrenaline) norepinephrine sympathetic

Question 34

VE sympathetic fiber trajectory to adrenal gland

Answer 34

VE sym/pre fiber enter sympathetic chain -> splanchnic nerve -> synapse on cells of adrenal gland that secrete epinephrine

Question 35

Locations of the VE para/pre | short or long?

Answer 35

in CNS: cranial nerve nuclei + sacral spinal cord VE para/pre is very long - CN III, VII, IX nuclei in brainstem - CN X in brainstem - sacral spinal cord (lower 1/3)

Question 36

Location of VE para/post | short or long?

Answer 36

outside of the head, in the wall of the organ innervated; VE para/post is very short

Question 37

sympathetic NS aka: parasympathetic NS aka:

Answer 37

Thoracolumbar outflow Craniosacral outflow

Question 38

Where does the VE para/pre fibers that innervate the organs of the thorax and 2/3 of abdomen come from?

Answer 38

CN X

Question 39

CN X supplies __ fiber to __

Answer 39

VE para/pre fibers | organs of thorax and upper 2/3 of abdomen

Question 40

Sacral spinal cord supplies __ fiber to __

Answer 40

VE para/pre fibers | lower 1/3 of abdomen and all of pelvis (pelvic splanchnic nerves)

Question 41

CN X course (VE para/pre and post):

Answer 41

skull -> neck -> thorax -> visceral plexuses (3) esophageal, cardiac, pulmonary plexuses

Question 42

Where CN X does not reach (lower 1/3 abdomen + pelvic area), VE para/pre fibers from __ __ __ form __ __ nerves go.

Answer 42

sacral spinal cord, | pelvic splanchnic

Question 43

Sacral outflow portion of the parasympathetic NS

Answer 43

Pelvic splanchnic nerves that emerge from the VE para/pre fibers

Question 44

2 general categories of VA (visceral sensory) fibers

Answer 44

1. detect sensation we are conscious of (pain, nausea) | 2. those we are not aware of (pH)

Question 45

VA fibers with conscious sensation travel back to __ __ (similar route to __ fibers)

Answer 45

spinal cord | sympathetic (DRG)

Question 46

VA fibers that we are not consciously aware of travel back to __ or __ __ __ (similar route to __ fibers)

Answer 46

brain or sacral spinal cord | parasympathetic

Question 47

Types of neurons found in DRG

Answer 47

SA, VA (pain sensing)

Question 48

Types of nerve fibers found in VR

Answer 48

SE, VE sym/pre

Question 49

When answering questions about the innervation of organs, __ fibers are an important part of the answer, this stands in contrast to questions about spinal nerves (!).

Answer 49

VA VA - important for organs, not for spinal cords!