Parasympathetic Nervous System

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 More General Terms 3 Additional Terms 4 References

Introduction

• Also see autonomic nervous system. Presynaptic neurons of the parasympathetic nervous system have their cell bodies in brainstem nuclei or in the lateral column of S2-S4 of the spinal cord. Parasympathetic ganglia lie either near the organ innervated or as intramural ganglia within the organ itself, except in the head. In the head, there are 4 discrete parasympathetic ganglia:

• ciliary ganglion
• otic ganglion
• pterygopalatine ganglion
• submandibular ganglion Postsynaptic ( postganglionic) neurons typically use acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.

More General Terms

• autonomic nervous system

Additional Terms

• parasympatholytic (anticholinergic, antimuscarinic agent)
• parasympathomimetic (cholinergic agent)

References

Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999

parasympathetic nervous system