01:146:245 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Dorsal Nucleus Of Vagus Nerve, Paravertebral Ganglia, Nucleus Ambiguus

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
• Course: 01:146:245
• Professor: Professor Wilhelms

Document Summary

~the parasympathetic ganglia are very close to the target organs, or even in the target organ. Unlike sympathetic chain ganglia which are right next to the spinal cord. ~the cells in parasympathetic ganglia have very little dendritic branching, innervated by only one or a few preganglionic axons. ~the preganglionic cells are in brain stem and sacral segments of spinal cord. There is the edinger-westfall nucleus in the midbrain. Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve in medulla. (innervates ganglia in thorax, abdomen, heart, lungs, gut) Specifically in lateral gray matter of spinal cord. ~parasympathetic functions are basically the opposite of sympathetic. Doing metabolic processes, expending energy for normal functions. ~also because sympathetic system is inactive, blood vessels dilate and there is less outflow of catecholamines from adrenal medulla. Note that there are some organs controlled only by sympathetic system. Sweat glands, adrenal medulla, piloerector (skin hair) muscles, arterial blood vessels. ~is part of the wall of the 3rd ventricle.