Anatomy: Autonomics

Front 1

What kind of outflow characterizes the parasympathetics?

Back 1

cranial-sacral outflow

Front 2

What constitutes the CNS?

Back 2

brain and spinal cord

Front 3

What constitutes the PNS?

Back 3

12 pairs of cranial nn.
31 pairs of spinal nn.
associated ganglia

Front 4

What are the functional divisions of the nervous system and what to they control? What kind of environment are they associated with?

Back 4

somatic - voluntary activities, external environment
visceral - involuntary activities, internal environment

Front 5

What is a neuron?

Back 5

cell body (soma) and its processes, dendrites, and axons

Front 6

What is a nucleus?

Back 6

collection of neuron cell bodies (somas) in the CNS

Front 7

What is a ganglion?

Back 7

collection of neuron cell bodies (somas) in the PNS

Front 8

Name the two types of ganglions and their characteristics.

Back 8

sensory - visceral and somatic, no synapse

motor - visceral only, synapse

Front 9

What are the cranial nerves of the parasympathetic outflow?

Back 9

CN III, VII, IX, X (Cat nerves)

Front 10

What are the sacral nerves of the parasympathetic outflow?

Back 10

S2, S3, S4 (poopers b/c innvervate smooth muscle of hindgut - rectum and anus)


mnemonic: S2, 3, 4 pushes feces to the floor

Front 11

All the splanchnic nn. come off the sympathetic chain except which ones?

Back 11

pelvic splanchnics b/c part of parasympathetic

Front 12

Are the autonomics part of the motor or sensory division? Are they part of the somatic or visceral division?

Back 12

motor division of visceral component of PNS

Front 13

What are chain ganglia and what are its divisions?

Back 13

Swellings at each vertebral level where connections of pre- and post-ganglionic neurons take place (MOTOR)

divisions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral chain ganglia

Front 14

What are pre-vertebral (pre-aortic) ganglia and what are its divisions?

Back 14

associated with the abdominal aorta, distributes to abdominal structures

divisions: celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric ganglia

Front 15

What are the characteristics of the pre- and post-ganglionic axons of the parasympathetics?

Back 15

long preganglionic axons that projects to ganglia in or near target organ wall

short postganglionics that distribute to organ

Front 16

What are the components of the thoracolumbar outflow?

Back 16

chain ganglia and prevertebral (pre-aortic) ganglia

Front 17

What are the divisions of the gut?

Back 17

foregut, midgut, hindgut

Front 18

What are the targets of the parasympathetics?

Back 18

cardiac m., glands, and smooth m. of the non-vascular variety (smooth mm. of tubes and bags w/o blood in them)

Front 19

What kind of outflow characterizes the sympathetics?

Back 19

thoracolumbar (thoracic and lumbar regions, T1-L2)

Front 20

What nerves are involved in the autonomics of the head?

Back 20

CN III, VII, IX

Front 21

What nerves supply the hindgut and pelvic viscera (left colic flexure onwards)?

Back 21

S2, 3, 4 (pelvic splanchnics)

Front 22

What part of the autonomic system is the parasympathetic?

Back 22

rest and repose (MOTOR)

Front 23

Which cranial nerve is not exclusively maintained in the head? What does it supply?

Back 23

CN X, vagus nerve (vagabond)


Parasympathetic innervation from neck to end of midgut

Front 24

Which nerves are involved in the thoracolumbar outflow of the sympathetics?

Back 24

thoracic: T1-T12
lumbar: L1 & L2

Front 25

Which nerves distribute only to the viscera of cavities of the body?

Back 25

Splanchnic nerves: sympathetic (thoracic, lumbar, sacral) and parasympathetic (CN X/Vagus and pelvic)

Front 26

What does the presence of the lateral horn indicate?

Back 26

must be b/t T1 and L2 or S2, S3, S4

Front 27

Can spinal nerves innervate the body cavities, organ structure, or body cavity vessels?

Back 27

No, only visceral/splanchnic nerves innervate

Front 28

What does the term "preganglionic" indicate?

Back 28

In CNS, so no ganglia involved

Front 29

What is the lateral horn of the thoracic part of the spinal cord associated with?

Back 29

sympathetic chain

Front 30

What activity does the parasympathetics participate in?

Back 30

rest and repose

Front 31

What activity does the sympathetic participate in?

Back 31

fight or flight

Front 32

What are the targets of the sympathetics?

Back 32

cardiac m., glands, and smooth m. of the vascular variety

Front 33

What is the distribution of the sympathetic system and where does it exit the spinal column?

Back 33

innervates everywhere

can only exit T1-L2

Front 34

What does the sympathetic/paravertebral chain innervate?

Back 34

body wall and body cavities

Front 35

For sympathetic distribution to the body wall, what must occur?

Back 35

must get into mixed nerve (WRC) via two options

1. leave CNS, synapse in chain at same level, GRC to spinal n.
2. leave CNS, travel up/down chain, synapse at level closest to destination, GRC to spinal n.

Front 36

For sympathetic distribution to the body cavity, what must occur?

Back 36

WRC to get into chain, but does not use GRC or spinal nn.

1. leave CNS, synapse in chain, go to target post ganglion

2. leave CNS, go through chain (no synapse), synapse in preaortic ganglia and go to target