Study vagal and pelvic parasympathetic pathways, their autonomic ganglia, visceral distributions, and effects on abdominal organs.
What are the two major sources of parasympathetic innervation to the abdominal viscera?
The vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) and pelvic splanchnic nerves from S2 to S4.
In This Section
1. What are the two major sources of parasympathetic innervation to the abdominal viscera?
2. Which division of the autonomic nervous system provides craniosacral outflow?
3. Which brainstem nucleus gives rise to most vagal preganglionic parasympathetic fibers supplying abdominal viscera?
4. Through which opening does the vagus nerve exit the cranial cavity?
5. How do vagal parasympathetic fibers enter the abdomen?
6. Which vagus nerve predominantly contributes to the anterior vagal trunk?
7. Which vagus nerve predominantly contributes to the posterior vagal trunk?
8. What is the approximate distal limit of vagal parasympathetic innervation in the gastrointestinal tract?
9. Which embryological divisions of the gastrointestinal tract receive parasympathetic fibers from the vagus nerve?
10. Which major abdominal autonomic plexus receives vagal fibers and distributes them toward foregut organs?
11. Where do preganglionic vagal fibers typically synapse after reaching abdominal organs?
12. Do vagal preganglionic parasympathetic fibers normally synapse in the celiac ganglia?
13. Which sacral spinal cord segments give rise to pelvic parasympathetic outflow?
14. Which nerves carry preganglionic sacral parasympathetic fibers toward pelvic and hindgut viscera?
15. From which part of the sacral spinal nerves do pelvic splanchnic nerves arise?
16. Which pelvic autonomic plexus receives the pelvic splanchnic nerves?
17. How do pelvic parasympathetic fibers reach the hindgut from the inferior hypogastric plexus?
18. Which segments of the colon receive parasympathetic innervation primarily from pelvic splanchnic nerves?
19. Which parasympathetic pathway supplies the rectum?
20. What is the general effect of parasympathetic stimulation on gastrointestinal motility?
21. How does parasympathetic activity generally affect gastrointestinal glandular secretion?
22. What is the general effect of parasympathetic stimulation on the internal anal sphincter?
23. Which neurotransmitter is released by preganglionic parasympathetic neurons?
24. Which receptor type receives acetylcholine at parasympathetic autonomic ganglia?
25. Which receptor family mediates most direct responses to postganglionic parasympathetic acetylcholine in abdominal organs?
26. How do the lengths of preganglionic and postganglionic parasympathetic fibers typically compare?
27. Which intrinsic nerve plexuses of the gastrointestinal wall contain enteric neurons influenced by parasympathetic input?
28. Which enteric plexus primarily regulates gastrointestinal smooth muscle motility?
29. Which enteric plexus primarily regulates intestinal mucosal secretion and local blood flow?
30. What functional effect may follow surgical interruption of vagal parasympathetic fibers to the stomach?