Intermediate Greater Splanchnic Nerve Quiz

Q1. What is the usual relationship of the greater splanchnic nerve to the thoracic sympathetic trunk?

• It arises from the lumbar plexus
• It is a continuation of the vagus nerve
• It is a branch of the phrenic nerve
• It is formed by converging visceral branches from thoracic sympathetic ganglia

Q2. How does the greater splanchnic nerve typically enter the abdomen?

• Through the obturator canal
• Through the inguinal canal
• Through the caval opening with the inferior vena cava
• Through or behind the diaphragmatic crus

Q3. What happens to many greater splanchnic preganglionic fibers after reaching the celiac ganglia?

• They synapse with postganglionic sympathetic neurons
• They synapse in dorsal root ganglia
• They become somatic sensory fibers
• They return immediately to the thoracic spinal cord

Q4. How do postganglionic fibers relayed from the celiac ganglia commonly reach foregut organs?

• Through posterior rami of lumbar nerves
• Through the inguinal ligament
• Through the femoral nerve
• Along periarterial plexuses accompanying celiac trunk branches

Q5. Which functional effect is generally associated with sympathetic output relayed through the greater splanchnic and celiac pathways?

• Reduced gastrointestinal motility and secretion
• Direct activation of skeletal muscle in the bowel wall
• Voluntary contraction of the stomach
• Generalized increase in peristalsis

Q6. Why can the greater splanchnic nerve participate in upper abdominal visceral pain transmission?

• It directly supplies cutaneous receptors of the abdomen
• It carries only parasympathetic efferents
• It carries accompanying visceral pain afferents toward thoracic spinal levels
• It is exclusively a somatic motor nerve

Q7. Which spinal nerve pathway initially carries sympathetic preganglionic fibers from the spinal cord to the sympathetic trunk?

• White rami communicantes
• Gray rami communicantes only
• Recurrent meningeal nerves only
• Posterior rami only

Q8. Why is the greater splanchnic nerve called a splanchnic nerve?

• It carries visceral autonomic and afferent fibers
• It is a branch of a cranial nerve
• It supplies only skin of the thorax
• It is a motor nerve to intercostal muscles

Q9. Which structure receives sympathetic fibers that may travel through thoracic splanchnic pathways without synapsing in a prevertebral ganglion first?

• Rectus abdominis
• Gallbladder epithelium only
• Adrenal medulla
• Skin of the anterior thigh

Q10. Which statement best distinguishes the greater splanchnic nerve from the vagus nerve in the abdomen?

• Both normally synapse in the celiac ganglia
• The vagus is sympathetic and the greater splanchnic is parasympathetic
• The greater splanchnic is sympathetic, while the vagus is parasympathetic
• Both are purely somatic motor nerves