Organization of the sympathetic NS and visceral sensory pathways

Question 1

How are 14 spinal cord levels (T1-L2) able to supply sweat glands for 31 dermatomes?

Answer 1

The sympathetic trunk is used as a pathway that lets levels T1-L2 share their preganglionic axons with somites at every level.

Question 2

Where will sympathetics to the body wall synapse?

Answer 2

at the level where they are used

Question 3

What are the 2 basic types of visceral sensation?

Answer 3

visceral pain

“visceral afferents”

Question 4

The 2 basic types of visceral sensation are _____ different and use _____ pathways to reach the CNS.

Answer 4

qualitatively

different

Question 5

How do you describe visceral pain?

Answer 5

dull
diffuse
poorly localized
(spread over a larger area)

Question 6

What are the stimuli causing visceral pain:

Answer 6

ischemia
prolonged smooth muscle contraction (cramping)
distention (stretching)

Question 7

Visceral pain axons for the thorax and abdomen follow which pathways?

Answer 7

sympathetic pathways backward (no matter how complicated)

Question 8

Where are cell bodies of visceral pain axons for the thorax and abdomen found?

Answer 8

dorsal root ganglia

Question 9

Visceral pain axons for the pelvis follow which pathways?

Answer 9

parasympathetic pathways backward via the pelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 10

Where are cell bodies of visceral pain axons for the pelvis found?

Answer 10

dorsal root ganglia

Question 11

T/F: most visceral afferent are perceived consciously.

Answer 11

F: NOT perceived consciously

Question 12

What do visceral afferents (other than pain) help to regulate?

Answer 12

autonomic function

Question 13

Some visceral afferents that reach the level of consciousness include ______ and ______.

Answer 13

hunger and nausea

Question 14

Visceral afferents for the thorax and abdomen are carried by which nerve?

Answer 14

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Question 15

Visceral afferents for the lower abdomen and pelvis are carried by which nerve?

Answer 15

pelvic splanchnic nerve

Question 16

A stimulus affects an internal organ (usually causing visceral pain) and at the same time, somatic pain is felt in the dermatome(s) belonging to the same spinal cord level, although there is no real stimulus to cause pain the skin. This is known as:

Answer 16

referred pain

Question 17

Most well known example of referred pain:

Answer 17

shoulder pain extending down the left upper limb during heart attack

Question 18

Which type of pain is very valuable for diagnosis?

Answer 18

referred pain