Autonomic Nervous System

• Preganglionic neurones of the SNS are located in the intermediolateral cell column of the thoracolumbar spinal cord (T1-L3)
• Preganglionic neurones synapse (acetylcholine) onto postganglionic sympathetic neurones in the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia
• Noradrenaline is the neurotransmitter at all target tissues except for the sweat glands (ACh)
• The parasympathetic nervous system has two divisions, cranial and sacral
• Preganglionic neurones of the parasympathetic nervous system are located in the intermediolateral cell column of the sacral spinal cord (S2-S4) and the brainstem nuclei of cranial nerve III, VII, IX and X
• Cranial nerve X is the vagus nerve, responsible for >70% of function
• Preganglionic neurones sypanse (acetlycholine) onto postganglionic parasympathetic neurones in ganglia close to the target tissue (PNS)
• PNS, ACh is the neurotransmitter at all target tissues
• PNS vs SNS