Sympathetic Nervous System

Question 1

what is the function of the gray ramus communicans?

Answer 1

communicating branch of postganglionic ganglia to the spinal nerve

Question 2

autonomics=

Answer 2

visceral motor

Question 3

where do the preganglionic sympathetic cell bodies originate?

Answer 3

the lateral horn

Question 4

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

Answer 4

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

Question 5

sympathetics to the body wall will synapse at the level where they

Answer 5

are used

Question 6

paravertebral ganglia are

Answer 6

expansions

Question 7

the sympathetic pathway differs in whether you are

Answer 7

below or above the diaphragm

Question 8

what are the two basic types of visceral sensation?

Answer 8

visceral pain

visceral afferents

Question 9

visceral afferents is all other

Answer 9

sensory information that may come from an organ and go to the CNS

Question 10

visceral pain and visceral afferents use

Answer 10

different pathways to get to the CNS

Question 11

what is visceral pain described as?

Answer 11

dull, diffuse, poorly localized

Question 12

stimuli which causes visceral pain includes (3)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

what is ischemia?

Answer 13

where pain of a heart attack starts

Question 14

examples of prolonged smooth muscle contraction (3)

Answer 14

stomach cramps
menstrual cramps
labor pains

Question 15

examples of distention (3)

Answer 15

organs inflamed/irritated

apendicitis
gallbladder stone
full bladder

Question 16

visceral pain axons for the thorax and abdomen follow — pathways backward (no matter how complicated) as far as the — — —

Answer 16

sympathetic

spinal nerve proper

Question 17

visceral pain axons for the thorax and abdomen then pass through the — —, like somatic sensory axons

Answer 17

dorsal root

Question 18

visceral pain cell bodies for the thorax and abdomen are found in the — — —

Answer 18

dorsal root ganglia

Question 19

visceral pain axons for the pelvis follow — pathways (pelvic splanchnic nerves) backward, as far as the — – —

Answer 19

parasympathetic

spinal nerve proper

Question 20

visceral pain axons for the pelvis then pass through the — —, like somatic sensory axons

Answer 20

dorsal root

Question 21

visceral pain axons for the pelvis are found in the — — —

Answer 21

dorsal root ganglia

Question 22

most visceral afferents are not perceived

Answer 22

consciously

Question 23

visceral afferents help to regulate

Answer 23

autonomic function

Question 24

some visceral afferents that reach the level of consciousness include (2)

Answer 24

hunger and nausea

Question 25

visceral afferents for the thorax and abdomen are carried by the — nerve

Answer 25

vagus (CN X)

Question 26

for the lower abdomen and pelvis, they are carried by

Answer 26

pelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 27

what is referred pain?

Answer 27

pain from the body wall that is imagined

Question 28

referred pain affects an internal organ, usually causing

Answer 28

visceral pain

Question 29

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

Answer 29

cause pain in the skin

Question 30

the most well known example is

Answer 30

should pain extending down the left upper limb during a heart attack

Question 31

the exact mechanism of referred pain is not well understood, but may involve

Answer 31

crossing of signals in the dorsal horn

Question 32

referred pain is very valuable for

Answer 32

diagnosis

Question 33

referred pain occurs because the brain associated other areas of the body with

Answer 33

what else is derived from that level