Which structure contains postganglionic neuron cell bodies in the parasympathetic nervous system?

Which structure contains postganglionic neuron cell bodies in the parasympathetic nervous system?

• A. Parasympathetic ganglion
• B. Sympathetic ganglion
• C. Dorsal root ganglion
• D. Nissl body

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that in the parasympathetic division, the neuron that sends signals to the target organ after synapsing with the first neuron is housed in a parasympathetic ganglion. These ganglia sit near or inside the target organ, so the postganglionic cell bodies are located there. This is different from the sympathetic system, where postganglionic cell bodies reside in sympathetic chain or prevertebral ganglia along the pathway to the effector. The dorsal root ganglion, by contrast, contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons, not autonomic motor neurons. Nissl bodies are simply the rough endoplasmic reticulum within neurons and do not indicate a specific ganglion.

The key idea is that in the parasympathetic division, the neuron that sends signals to the target organ after synapsing with the first neuron is housed in a parasympathetic ganglion. These ganglia sit near or inside the target organ, so the postganglionic cell bodies are located there. This is different from the sympathetic system, where postganglionic cell bodies reside in sympathetic chain or prevertebral ganglia along the pathway to the effector. The dorsal root ganglion, by contrast, contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons, not autonomic motor neurons. Nissl bodies are simply the rough endoplasmic reticulum within neurons and do not indicate a specific ganglion.