Intermediate Lesser Thoracic Splanchnic Nerve Quiz
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This quiz contains 10 questions. Click below to begin.
Q1. Where are the cell bodies of the preganglionic sympathetic neurons whose axons travel in the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve?
- Posterior horn only
- Intermediolateral cell column
- Dorsal root ganglia
- Aorticorenal ganglia
Q2. How do preganglionic sympathetic fibers enter the thoracic sympathetic trunk before joining a thoracic splanchnic nerve?
- Through the vagus nerve
- Through gray rami communicantes
- Through posterior roots
- Through white rami communicantes
Q3. What happens to most preganglionic fibers of the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve within the sympathetic trunk?
- They pass through without synapsing
- They enter posterior rami
- They become parasympathetic fibers
- They all synapse immediately
Q4. In which direction does the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve generally descend after leaving the sympathetic trunk?
- Directly superiorly
- Superolaterally
- Inferomedially
- Laterally into the upper limb
Q5. Through which part of the diaphragm does the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve commonly enter the abdomen?
- Esophageal hiatus with the vagal trunks
- Caval opening
- Crus of the diaphragm
- Central tendon
Q6. Which ganglion is particularly associated with termination of the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve?
- Aorticorenal ganglion
- Superior cervical ganglion
- Pterygopalatine ganglion
- Geniculate ganglion
Q7. Which autonomic plexus receives contributions associated with the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve?
- Brachial plexus
- Cardiac plexus only
- Pulmonary plexus only
- Renal plexus
Q8. In addition to sympathetic efferent fibers, which fibers may travel centrally through the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve?
- Visceral afferent fibers
- Special visual afferent fibers
- Special auditory afferent fibers
- Somatic motor fibers to skeletal muscle
Q9. Which structure is classified as paravertebral rather than prevertebral?
- Celiac ganglion
- Thoracic sympathetic ganglion
- Superior mesenteric ganglion
- Aorticorenal ganglion
Q10. Which feature distinguishes the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve from a typical intercostal nerve?
- It is an anterior ramus of a thoracic spinal nerve
- It provides cutaneous innervation to an intercostal space
- It supplies the intercostal muscles as its primary function
- It predominantly carries preganglionic sympathetic fibers toward abdominal ganglia