You have a really good question. Studying the nervous system can be overwhelming and quit confusing. Preganglionic Neurons come from the CNS to the Ganglion ( mass of neuron cell bodies and dendrites) and Postganglionic neurons leave the ganglion and head toward the effector organ ( smooth muscle, glands, etc..).
The opposite of postganglionic is preganglionic. Preganglionic neurons are responsible for carrying nerve impulses from the central nervous system to ganglia, while postganglionic neurons transmit nerve impulses from ganglia to target organs.
could be preganglionic
divergence
Yes, the neurotransmitter released by both sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons is acetylcholine. In the autonomic nervous system, preganglionic neurons from both divisions release acetylcholine to activate nicotinic receptors on postganglionic neurons. This is a key feature that differentiates the preganglionic fibers from the postganglionic fibers, where the sympathetic fibers typically release norepinephrine and the parasympathetic fibers release acetylcholine.
The effector pathway of the autonomic nervous system typically contains two types of neurons: preganglionic neurons and postganglionic neurons. The preganglionic neurons originate in the central nervous system and synapse with postganglionic neurons located in autonomic ganglia. These postganglionic neurons then project to various target organs, mediating involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.
autonomic
Preganglionic neurons develop from the neural tube during embryonic development. They are part of the autonomic nervous system and transmit signals from the central nervous system to the autonomic ganglia, where they synapse with postganglionic neurons.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems differ anatomically in origin, pathway, and neurotransmitter usage. The sympathetic nervous system originates from the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord (T1-L2), while the parasympathetic system arises from the craniosacral region (brainstem and sacral spinal cord). Sympathetic pathways typically involve short preganglionic neurons and long postganglionic neurons, whereas parasympathetic pathways consist of long preganglionic neurons and short postganglionic neurons. Additionally, the primary neurotransmitter used by sympathetic postganglionic neurons is norepinephrine, while parasympathetic postganglionic neurons predominantly use acetylcholine.
Preganglionic sympathetic fibers trigger the release of acetylcholine at the synapse with postganglionic neurons in the sympathetic ganglia. This neurotransmitter binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the postganglionic neuron, which then propagate the signal to release norepinephrine at the target tissue.
Preganglionic because they are myelinated. FALSE
The preganglionic fibers of the autonomic nervous system travel through the cranial nerves (in the head) and the spinal nerves (in the rest of the body). They synapse with postganglionic neurons in autonomic ganglia before reaching their target organs.
Preganglionic neurons synapse with postganglionic neurons in the autonomic nervous system. These synapses occur in ganglia, which are clusters of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system. In the sympathetic division, preganglionic neurons typically synapse in sympathetic ganglia near the spinal cord, while in the parasympathetic division, they synapse in ganglia located close to or within the target organs. This synaptic connection is crucial for transmitting signals that regulate involuntary bodily functions.