Postganglionic nerve fibers

Nerve: Postganglionic fibers
Sympathetic connections of the ciliary and superior cervical ganglia.
Latin	neurofibrae postganglionicae
Code	TA A14.2.00.010

Acetylcholine

Norepinephrine

In the autonomic nervous system, fibers from the ganglion to the effector organ are called postganglionic fibers.

Neurotransmitters

The neurotransmitters used for postganglionic fibers differ:

• In the parasympathetic division, they are cholinergic (that is, they use acetylcholine as their neurotransmitters.)

• In the sympathetic division, most are adrenergic (that is, they use norepinephrine as their neurotransmitters.) One exception of this is the sympathetic innervation of sweat glands, which uses acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter, at both pre and post ganglionic synapses. Furthermore, another exception is the sympathetic innervation of the adrenal glands, which is done directly by the preganglionic fiber, and subsequently uses acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.

See also

• Preganglionic fibers
• Nerve fiber

External links

• Diagram at University of Waterloo

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