Beginner Parasympathetic Innervation of the Abdomen Quiz

Q1. Which cranial nerve provides most parasympathetic innervation to abdominal foregut and midgut derivatives?

• Accessory nerve
• Hypoglossal nerve
• Phrenic nerve
• Vagus nerve

Q2. Which nerves provide parasympathetic innervation to hindgut derivatives?

• Sacral sympathetic nerves
• Greater thoracic splanchnic nerves
• Lumbar splanchnic nerves
• Pelvic splanchnic nerves

Q3. What are the spinal cord levels of the pelvic splanchnic nerves?

• S2 to S4
• C3 to C5
• T5 to T9
• L1 to L2

Q4. Where do abdominal parasympathetic preganglionic fibers usually synapse?

• In dorsal root ganglia
• In the spinal cord anterior horn
• In the sympathetic trunk
• In or near the target organ

Q5. Which part of the colon marks the approximate transition between vagal and pelvic splanchnic parasympathetic supply?

• Left colic flexure
• Anal verge
• Pylorus
• Ileocecal valve

Q6. Which parasympathetic source supplies the ascending colon?

• Vagus nerve
• Pelvic splanchnic nerves
• Lumbar splanchnic nerves
• Pudendal nerve

Q7. Which parasympathetic source supplies the sigmoid colon?

• Pelvic splanchnic nerves
• Vagus nerve only
• Greater thoracic splanchnic nerves
• Phrenic nerves

Q8. Which general gastrointestinal effect is associated with parasympathetic activity?

• Generalized inhibition of peristalsis
• Increased motility and secretion
• Suppression of glandular secretion
• Contraction of most vascular smooth muscle

Q9. Are the abdominal parasympathetic pathways primarily preganglionic or postganglionic when they travel in the vagus and pelvic splanchnic nerves?

• Sympathetic postganglionic
• Preganglionic
• Postganglionic only
• Somatic motor only

Q10. Which intrinsic neural system within the gut wall interacts closely with parasympathetic input?

• Cervical sympathetic chain only
• Brachial plexus
• Lumbar somatic plexus
• Enteric nervous system