Which structure houses postganglionic neuron cell bodies in the sympathetic nervous system?

Which structure houses postganglionic neuron cell bodies in the sympathetic nervous system?

• A. Dorsal root ganglion
• B. Sympathetic ganglion
• C. Brainstem nucleus
• D. Cerebral cortex

Answer: (B)

In the sympathetic division, the postganglionic neuron cell bodies are located in autonomic ganglia. These are the sympathetic ganglia, which sit near the spinal cord (paravertebral chain) or in prevertebral locations in front of the aorta. The preganglionic neurons start in the spinal cord and synapse on these postganglionic cell bodies in the sympathetic ganglia, then the postganglionic fibers go to the target organs. The other options don’t fit because the dorsal root ganglion houses sensory neuron cell bodies, not autonomic postganglionic ones; brainstem nuclei are CNS processing centers, not sites of postganglionic autonomic cell bodies; and the cerebral cortex is higher brain tissue, not involved in housing these autonomic neurons.

In the sympathetic division, the postganglionic neuron cell bodies are located in autonomic ganglia. These are the sympathetic ganglia, which sit near the spinal cord (paravertebral chain) or in prevertebral locations in front of the aorta. The preganglionic neurons start in the spinal cord and synapse on these postganglionic cell bodies in the sympathetic ganglia, then the postganglionic fibers go to the target organs.

The other options don’t fit because the dorsal root ganglion houses sensory neuron cell bodies, not autonomic postganglionic ones; brainstem nuclei are CNS processing centers, not sites of postganglionic autonomic cell bodies; and the cerebral cortex is higher brain tissue, not involved in housing these autonomic neurons.