Intermediate Sympathetic Trunk Quiz

Q1. At approximately which vertebral levels is the superior cervical ganglion usually found?

• C6-C7
• C2-C3
• L1-L2
• T4-T5

Q2. What is a typical relationship of the superior cervical ganglion to the internal carotid artery?

• Posterior or posteromedial to the internal carotid artery
• Inside the internal carotid artery
• Lateral to the external jugular vein only
• Within the thyroid gland

Q3. What structure is closely related to the middle cervical ganglion near the lower neck?

• Superficial temporal artery
• Middle meningeal artery
• Inferior thyroid artery
• Facial artery

Q4. What is the ansa subclavia?

• A vagal loop around the common carotid artery
• A branch of the cervical plexus around the internal jugular vein
• A venous arch connecting the subclavian veins
• A sympathetic loop around the subclavian artery

Q5. Which structure usually lies anterior to the cervical sympathetic trunk?

• Ligamentum flavum
• Spinal cord
• Spinous processes
• Carotid sheath

Q6. Which prevertebral muscle is closely related to much of the cervical sympathetic trunk?

• Mylohyoid and geniohyoid
• Longus capitis and longus colli
• Sternohyoid and omohyoid
• Masseter and temporalis

Q7. How do postganglionic sympathetic fibers reach cervical spinal nerves?

• Through gray rami communicantes
• Through the phrenic nerve exclusively
• Through white rami communicantes at every cervical level
• Through dorsal roots only

Q8. Are white rami communicantes normally present in the cervical region?

• No, cervical white rami communicantes are absent
• Yes, but only at C1
• Yes, one is present at every cervical level
• Yes, they connect directly to cranial nerves

Q9. Which cervical sympathetic ganglia contribute sympathetic cardiac nerves?

• Only the middle cervical ganglion
• Only the superior cervical ganglion
• Only the inferior cervical ganglion
• Superior, middle, and inferior cervical ganglia

Q10. How do sympathetic fibers reach the dilator pupillae muscle?

• Via parasympathetic fibers in the oculomotor nerve
• Via the glossopharyngeal nerve
• Via the facial nerve through the chorda tympani
• Via the internal carotid sympathetic plexus