Intermediate Superior Mesenteric Plexus Quiz

Q1. What is the relationship between the superior mesenteric plexus and the superior mesenteric artery?

• It surrounds and follows the artery and its branches
• They are anatomically unrelated
• It is confined to the spinal canal
• It lies only within the arterial lumen

Q2. Which thoracic splanchnic pathway can contribute sympathetic fibers to the superior mesenteric region?

• Lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve
• Pelvic splanchnic nerve only
• Phrenic nerve
• Pudendal nerve

Q3. What happens to many sympathetic preganglionic fibers reaching the superior mesenteric ganglion?

• They synapse in dorsal root ganglia
• They terminate only in the intestinal lumen
• They become somatic motor fibers
• They synapse with postganglionic sympathetic neurons

Q4. Which arterial branch carries related autonomic fibers toward the jejunum?

• Left gastric artery
• Jejunal arteries
• Left colic artery
• Superior rectal artery

Q5. Which arterial branch and its plexus carry autonomic fibers toward the cecum and terminal ileum?

• Splenic artery
• Left gastric artery
• Ileocolic artery
• Inferior mesenteric artery

Q6. Which branch of the superior mesenteric artery carries autonomic fibers toward much of the transverse colon?

• Left gastric artery
• Superior rectal artery
• Middle colic artery
• Inferior epigastric artery

Q7. Which neighboring autonomic plexus lies superiorly and communicates with the superior mesenteric plexus?

• Cervical plexus
• Sacral somatic plexus
• Brachial plexus
• Celiac plexus

Q8. What is the functional role of vagal fibers traveling through the superior mesenteric plexus?

• They are postganglionic sympathetic fibers
• They provide somatic motor supply to the bowel wall
• They normally synapse in the superior mesenteric ganglion
• They carry preganglionic parasympathetic input toward midgut organs

Q9. How can visceral pain afferents from midgut structures reach the spinal cord?

• They travel only through somatic motor nerves
• They terminate permanently in the superior mesenteric ganglion
• They travel exclusively through pelvic splanchnic nerves
• They commonly accompany sympathetic pathways toward the spinal cord

Q10. Why is the superior mesenteric plexus considered a mixed autonomic network?

• It contains only postganglionic sympathetic fibers
• It is formed exclusively by the vagus nerve
• It contains only somatic sensory fibers
• It contains sympathetic, parasympathetic, and visceral afferent fibers