COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Copyright Regulations 1968 WARNING This material has been reproduced and communicated to you by,

or on behalf of, Griffith University, pursuant to Part VB of The Copyright Act 1968 (The Act; a copy of the Act is available at SCALEPlus, the legal information retrieval system owned by the Australian Attorney Generals Department, at http://scaleplus.law.gov.au). The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Any further reproduction or communication of this material by you may be the subject of Copyright Protection under the Act. Information or excerpts from this material may be used for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Act, and may only be reproduced as permitted under the Act. Do not remove this notice.

Visceral Nervous System

Oral Biology

Alex Forrest
Senior Lecturer in Forensic Odontology Forensic Science Research & Innovation Centre, Griffith University Consultant Forensic Odontologist, Queensland Health Pathology and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Rd, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia 4108

Learning Objectives

Visceral Nervous System

1. You should be able to construct a concept map of the nervous system. 2. You should understand and be able to explain the basic structural organization of the human nervous system. 3. You should understand and be able to explain how the visceral component of the nervous system relates to the nervous system as a whole. 4. You should be able to explain the major structural and functional characteristics of the somatic and visceral components of the nervous system.

The visceral or autonomic nervous system includes part of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Its peripheral part is concerned with the sensory and motor innervation of viscera, glands, smooth muscle and blood vessels.

Visceral Nervous System

The visceral system responds to changes in somatic activity of the body. Therefore the term autonomic is not appropriate. We use the term visceral which describes what the system supplies.
http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/301notes2b.html

Afferent (Sensory) Pathways

Afferent Pathways

Afferent = sensory The visceral sensory pathways resemble those of somatic nerves. The cell bodies of the afferent neurons are located either in the dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves or the cranial nerve ganglia. Like the sensory somatic neurons, they do not synapse during their passage from sensory end-organs to the CNS. Their axons accompany those of somatic sensory neurons to the central nervous system.

Efferent (Motor) Pathways

Efferent Pathways

Efferent Pathways

Unlike somatic motor pathways, two visceral neurons are required in the visceral motor pathway, and that means that there is a synapse in the pathway. Therefore a ganglion will be found along any nerve carrying visceral motor fibres to accommodate the nerve cell bodies of the second neuron in the pathway.

The nerve cell bodies of the primary (preganglionic) neurons lie in the visceral motor parts of various cranial nerve nuclei, or in the lateral grey columns of the spinal cord.
From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 38th Edition, 1989. p 924.

Efferent Pathways

Efferent Pathways

Their axons, which are usually myelinated, travel in cranial or spinal nerves to enter the visceral ganglia. Here they synapse with the secondary neurons.

The axons of these secondary neurons are usually unmyelinated, and are distributed to the effector organ.

http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/301notes2b.html http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/301notes2b.html

Efferent Pathways

Efferent Pathways

http://www.ualr.edu/klwennstrom/autonomic.gif

http://www.ualr.edu/klwennstrom/autonomic.gif

Therefore, we talk of a preganglionic neuron and a postganglionic neuron in the motor or efferent pathway.

Note that the sympathetic preganglionic cell is short it only has to reach to the ganglia of the sympathetic chain.

Efferent Pathways

Efferent Pathways

You should note that there tend to be far more postganglionic cells than there are preganglionic cells. Therefore, each preganglionic neuron synapses with many (as many as 20) postganglionic neurons. This fact accounts for the wide diffusion of many autonomic phenomena.
http://www.ualr.edu/klwennstrom/autonomic.gif

In contrast, the preganglionic parasympathetic cell is very long. Parasympathetic ganglia are often located on or close to the organ that is being supplied.

Sympathetic Division
Now we have looked at the two divisions of the visceral system, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic divisions, and we have seen the structural differences between the two. There are functional differences as well.

The sympathetic system is generally concerned with the expenditure of energy and defence in emergencies. These are widespread activities which require a diffuse distribution. Its functions, if discharged en masse, would be useful to an individual in an attitude of fight or flight.

http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/301notes2b.html

Copyright Alex Forrest 2013

Sympathetic Division

Parasympathetic Division
The parasympathetic system is primarily concerned with conservative and restorative processes such as slowing the heart rate, contracting the pupils to protect the eyes from light, and inhibiting the utilisation of liver glycogen. It has a restricted distribution with more-orless local functions.

Its functions include the elevation of the heart rate, elevation of blood pressure, stimulation of breakdown of liver glycogen, and dilatation of the bronchioles.

http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/301notes2b.html

http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/301notes2b.html

Parasympathetic Division

In general, organs innervated by motor fibres from both divisions respond to them in opposite ways. Through such balanced opposition, the two divisions coordinate responses to widely varying internal and external conditions.

Accordingly, the visceral nervous system is essential for the preservation of internal constancy, or homeostasis.

http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/301notes2b.html

Sympathetic System

Sympathetic System

The cell bodies of sympathetic primary efferent neurons are located in the grey matter of the spinal cord in the thoracolumbar region, and some anatomists give the system an alternative name for that reason: thoracolumbar system.

http://soma.npa.uiuc.edu/courses/bio303/Image56.jpg

Sympathetic System

Chusid, JG, Correlative Neuroanatomy & Functional Neurology, Lange Medical Publications, NY, 17th Ed, 1979, p. 140.

Sympathetic fibres are found leaving the spinal cord only in spinal nerves T1L2 and not in any other cranial or spinal nerves anywhere in the body.

http://soma.npa.uiuc.edu/courses/bio303/Image56.jpg

Sympathetic System

Sympathetic System

However, they require to be distributed widely in the body, and so they tend to travel to other more superior and inferior spinal nerves by spreading themselves out along the length of the sympathetic chain.

The sympathetic chain is a chain of connected ganglia running along the side of the vertebral column. They contain ganglia and synapses to connect preganglionic and postganglionic sympathetic motor cells.
McMinn RMH & Hutchings RT, A Colour Atlas of Human Anatomy, Wolfe Medical Publications, 2nd Edition, p. 196. http://inside.salve.edu/walsh/autonomic_system.jpg

Sympathetic System

Sympathetic System

Preganglionic fibres leave the spinal cord in the ventral root of the spinal nerve, and pass into the common spinal part, and then into the ventral ramus.
http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/segm.gif Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 38th Edition, 1989. p 924.

From the ventral ramus, a branch carrying myelinated preganglionic fibres, called the white ramus communicans, branches out to connect with the sympathetic chain.

Sympathetic System

Sympathetic System

When it gets to the sympathetic chain, the preganglionic fibres in it can either synapse in the sympathetic ganglion, or they may ascend or descend before doing so. This is how they pass to levels other than T1-L2.
Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 38th Edition, 1989. p. 1125.

Therefore, while only spinal nerves T1-L2 have these white communicating rami, they are able to spread preganglionic fibres to every level along the sympathetic chain before they synapse with secondary neurons.
http://soma.npa.uiuc.edu/courses/bio303/Image56.jpg

Sympathetic System

Sympathetic System

http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/segm.gif

http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/segm.gif

Ganglia in the sympathetic chain now need a method of getting their postganglionic fibres back out of the chain and into spinal nerves or other pathways for wide distribution in the body.

They do this by sending a second communicating ramus, this time containing unmyelinated postganglionic fibres, out to each spinal nerve.

Sympathetic System

Sympathetic System

http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/segm.gif

So that sympathetic fibres can be distributed to all parts of the body, the grey communicating ramus enters the spinal nerve in the short common spinal nerve, and then is distributed along both dorsal and ventral rami.
Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 38th Edition, 1989. p. 1125.

This is called the grey ramus communicans, and every spinal nerve possesses one.

Sympathetic System

Sympathetic System

Recall that not all postganglionic fibres pass out in the grey ramus communicans at the spinal level at which they synapsed. Sometimes they ascend or descend several levels before exiting the sympathetic chain. And sometimes, they simply pass directly to blood vessels in the vicinity of the ganglion, rather than travelling in a grey ramus communicans at all.

Why do you think sympathetic fibres often travel with arteries? Could there be a reason for this apparently eccentric behaviour? After all, it is not the pattern followed by other nerves

Sympathetic System: Cranial Part

Sympathetic System: Cranial Part

In the neck, the ganglia of the eight spinal nerves have been consolidated into only three ganglia: The cranial part of the sympathetic is the bit with which we as dental and dentally-related practitioners need to be familiar.
Superior Cervical Ganglion Represents the fused ganglia of C1 C4

Middle Cervical Ganglion

Represents the fused ganglia of C5 and C6

Stellate Ganglion

Formed by the fusion of C7 and T1.

Sympathetic System: Cranial Part

Sympathetic System: Cranial Part

As we said before, some sympathetic fibres run in the walls of arteries. Sympathetic fibres run from the superior end of the sympathetic chain to form a plexus in the wall of the internal carotid artery, called the internal carotid plexus. The connection between this and the superior cervical ganglion is called the internal carotid nerve.

Origin Unknown

Sympathetic System: Cranial Part

Sympathetic System: Cranial Part

Modified from: Netter, F. 1989, Atlas of Human Anatomy, Summit, New Jersey, CibaGeigy Medical, Plate 125.

The internal carotid nerve begins at the cranial pole of the superior cervical ganglion. It is therefore an ascending continuation of the sympathetic trunk. It accompanies the internal carotid artery through its canal into the cranial cavity where it forms the internal carotid plexus in the wall of the artery.

Modified from: Netter, F. 1989, Atlas of Human Anatomy, Summit, New Jersey, Ciba-Geigy Medical, Plate 125.

It contains many sympathetic vasoconstrictor fibres, and communicates with the trigeminal and pterygopalatine ganglia, with II, III, IV and VI, and with the ciliary ganglion.

Sympathetic System: Cranial Part

The branch to the pterygopalatine ganglion, called the deep petrosal nerve, joins the greater petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal.

Netter, F. 1989, Atlas of Human Anatomy, Summit, New Jersey, Ciba-Geigy Medical, Plate 127.

Netter, F. 1989, Atlas of Human Anatomy, Summit, New Jersey, Ciba-Geigy Medical, Plate 127.

Parasympathetic System

Parasympathetic System
http://www.ualr.edu/klwennstrom/autonomic.gif

In this system, the preganglionic fibres are usually long, with the parasympathetic ganglion being located on, or even in, the organ supplied. Postganglionic fibres are usually very short.

Parasympathetic System

Parasympathetic System

Preganglionic fibres are limited to the cranial and sacral regions, a fact that leads to the alternative name: the craniosacral system for the parasympathetic system.

They occur in cranial nerves III, VII, IX and X, and in spinal nerves S2-S4.

http://soma.npa.uiuc.edu/courses/bio303/Image58.jpg

http://soma.npa.uiuc.edu/courses/bio303/Image58.jpg

Parasympathetic System

In the cranial part of the parasympathetic system there are four parasympathetic motor ganglia:
Chusid, JG, Correlative Neuroanatomy & Functional Neurology, Lange Medical Publications, NY, 17th Ed, 1979, p. 141.

The Ciliary Ganglion The Pterygopalatine Ganglion The Otic Ganglion The Submandibular Ganglion

Parasympathetic System

The ciliary ganglion lies in the orbit, the pterygopalatine ganglion lies in the pterygopalatine fossa, the otic ganglion in the infratemporal fossa, and the submandibular ganglion is associated with the capsule of the submandibular salivary gland.

Facial Nerve (VII)

The Facial Nerve (VII)

The Facial Nerve (VII)

Parasympathetic fibres originate in the Superior Salivatory Nucleus of the midbrain. They emerge from the midbrain in the sensory root of VII, the nervus intermedius, and travel in the facial nerve.

http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/cnerves/cn7/cn7_graphics/fig7_18a.gif

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 38th Edition, 1989. p 1107.

They continue until just before the nerve exits the stylomastoid foramen and then leave the main nerve trunk to contribute to the chorda tympani.

The Facial Nerve (VII)

The Facial Nerve (VII)

http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/cnerves/cn7/cn7_graphics/fig7_18a.gif

http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/cnerves/cn7/cn7_graphics/fig7_18a.gif

This exits the skull via the anterior canaliculus for the chorda tympani which is found at the medial end of the petrotympanic fissure, and passes to join the lingual nerve.

From the lingual nerve, they pass to the submandibular ganglion where they synapse with the postganglionic fibres which are known as the secretomotor fibres for the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands.

The Facial Nerve (VII)

The Facial Nerve (VII)

Other fibres pass to the pterygopalatine ganglion via the tympanic plexus, the greater superficial petrosal nerve and the nerve of the pterygoid canal.

Here they synapse with the postganglionic fibres which are relayed via the zygomatic branch of the maxillary division of V to the lacrimal gland, and by branches from the ganglion to the minor salivary glands of the nose and palate.

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 38th Edition, 1989. p 1105.

The Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

The efferent fibres in this nerve pass to the parotid salivary gland.

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 38th Edition, 1989. p 1107.

The Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

The Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

They originate in the inferior salivatory nucleus and travel first in IX, then in its tympanic branch which passes up through the tympanic canaliculus in the roof of the jugular fossa. These fibres traverse the tympanic plexus which also contains sympathetic fibres from the caroticotympanic nerve from the carotid plexus.

They enter the lesser superficial petrosal nerve at this point, and this nerve exits the temporal bone and exits the cranium via foramen ovale to reach the otic ganglion.
From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 38th Edition, 1989. p 1107.

The Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

They synapse with the postganglionic secretomotor fibres in the otic ganglion which then run in the auriculotemporal nerve to reach the parotid salivary gland.

Vagus Nerve (X)

Grays Anatomy, Longmans, London, 38th Ed 1989 p. 1105

The Vagus Nerve (X)

Fibres arise in the dorsal nucleus of vagus and travel in the nerve trunk and in its pulmonary, cardiac, oesophageal, gastric and intestinal branches. These fibres are relayed in minute ganglia which lie in the walls of the individual viscera.

The End

Grays Anatomy, Longmans, London, 38th Ed 1989 p. 1117