Autonomic Nervous System Overview Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which nervous system is often referred to as 'The Second Brain'?

Enteric Nervous System (correct)

Peripheral Nervous System

Autonomic Nervous System

Central Nervous System

Which type of neurons respond to mechanical, thermal, osmotic, and chemical stimuli?

Interneurons

Sensory neurons (correct)

Motor neurons

Autonomic neurons

Which nervous system controls motility, secretion, and absorption by acting on smooth muscle and secretory cells?

Peripheral Nervous System

Enteric Nervous System (correct)

Central Nervous System

Autonomic Nervous System

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for 'Fight or Flight' responses?

Sympathetic Signup and view all the answers

Which division of the autonomic nervous system promotes erection of genitals and sexual arousal?

Parasympathetic Signup and view all the answers

Where are the cell bodies located in the sympathetic nervous system?

In the lateral horns of the spinal cord gray matter (T1-L2/3) Signup and view all the answers

What system do the splanchnic nerves belong to?

Sympathetic nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What role does the Vagus nerve play?

It is important for regulating the parasympathetic nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the enteric nervous system in the autonomic nervous system?

Regulating gastrointestinal motility and secretion Signup and view all the answers

Where are the cell bodies located in the parasympathetic nervous system?

In the brainstem and the sacral spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

Which division originates in the T1-L2 spinal cord regions?

Sympathetic Signup and view all the answers

What type of axons are post-ganglionic axons in the autonomic nervous system?

Unmyelinated Signup and view all the answers

Which organs are exclusively innervated by the sympathetic division?

Glands and blood vessels in the skin Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the splanchnic nerves in the autonomic nervous system?

Conduct sensory information from visceral organs to the CNS Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes pre-ganglionic axons from post-ganglionic axons in the autonomic nervous system?

Myelination Signup and view all the answers

Where are the cell bodies located for pre-ganglionic parasympathetic axons of the cranial nerves?

Brainstem nuclei of cranial nerves III, VII, IX, X Signup and view all the answers

Which plexus regulates GI blood flow and epithelial function?

Submucosal (Meissner’s) Plexus Signup and view all the answers

Which spinal levels do the sympathetic axons from the lateral horn in the spinal cord travel to the prevertebral ganglia synapse?

T1-T4, T5-T9, T10-T11, T12, L1-L2 Signup and view all the answers

Where do the axons from the prevertebral ganglia synapse travel to?

Visceral organs Signup and view all the answers

Where does the Vagus nerve supply visceral organs?

In the head and as far caudally as the left colic flexure of the large intestine Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Autonomic Nervous System Overview

The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for innervating the heart and lungs, with specific axons from T1-T4, T5-T9, T10-T11, T12, and L1-L2 forming different splanchnic nerves.
Paravertebral ganglia extend in chains from the base of the skull to the ganglion impar on the anterior aspect of the coccyx, with cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions of ganglia.
The sympathetic nervous system has a short preganglionic component and a long postganglionic component, with the axons traveling from the lateral horn in the spinal cord to the prevertebral ganglia synapse being short, and those traveling from the prevertebral ganglia to the visceral organs being long.
Visceral structures in the head receive sympathetic innervation from cell bodies in thoracic levels, which send their axons to the cervical ganglion and then travel as the carotid plexus around the Internal Carotid Artery.
The parasympathetic division, known as the craniosacral division, has a long pre-ganglionic component and a short post-ganglionic component, with pre-ganglionic cell bodies located in brainstem nuclei of cranial nerves III, VII, IX, X, and in cell bodies of S2-S4 in the spinal cord.
Each cranial nerve carrying parasympathetic axons has an associated ganglion, with the Vagus nerve supplying visceral organs in the head and traveling as far caudally as the left colic flexure of the large intestine.
Pre-ganglionic parasympathetic axons that form Pelvic Splanchnic nerves leave the ventral root before the spinal nerve is formed, and there are no parasympathetic fibers in any spinal nerve.
The enteric nervous system, the intrinsic nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract, contains two neural plexuses: the Submucosal (Meissner’s) Plexus, which regulates GI blood flow and epithelial function, and the Myenteric (Auerbach’s) Plexus, which aids in motility, contraction, and relaxation of smooth muscle.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the autonomic nervous system with this overview quiz. Explore the divisions, ganglia, innervation patterns, and functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, as well as the role of the enteric nervous system in gastrointestinal regulation.