AUTONOMIC GANGLIA Meaning and
Definition
-
Autonomic ganglia are clusters of nerve cells located outside the central nervous system (CNS) that are responsible for regulating the activities of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls involuntary or automatic bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. These ganglia serve as vital connection points between the CNS and various organs and tissues.
Autonomic ganglia can be classified into two types: sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia. Sympathetic ganglia are found closer to the spinal cord and mainly mediate the fight-or-flight response, while parasympathetic ganglia are located near or within the target organs and play a role in the rest and digest response. Both types contain clusters of specialized neurons called ganglion cells, which receive information from the CNS and transmit it to the organs and tissues they innervate.
These ganglia function by receiving signals from preganglionic neurons originating from the spinal cord or brainstem. The preganglionic neurons release neurotransmitters that bind to receptors on the ganglion cells, triggering the release of additional neurotransmitters. This process allows for the rapid and coordinated activation or inhibition of various organ systems, ensuring appropriate responses to changing environmental conditions and maintaining homeostasis.
Disorders or damage to autonomic ganglia can result in disruptions to the autonomic nervous system, leading to various symptoms such as irregular heart rate, abnormal digestion, and impaired regulation of blood pressure. Understanding the structure and function of autonomic ganglia is crucial for diagnosing and treating autonomic nervous system disorders.
Common Misspellings for AUTONOMIC GANGLIA
- zutonomic ganglia
- sutonomic ganglia
- wutonomic ganglia
- qutonomic ganglia
- aytonomic ganglia
- ahtonomic ganglia
- ajtonomic ganglia
- aitonomic ganglia
- a8tonomic ganglia
- a7tonomic ganglia
- auronomic ganglia
- aufonomic ganglia
- augonomic ganglia
- auyonomic ganglia
- au6onomic ganglia
- au5onomic ganglia
- autinomic ganglia
- autknomic ganglia
- autlnomic ganglia
- autpnomic ganglia
Etymology of AUTONOMIC GANGLIA
The word "autonomic" is derived from the Greek word "autonomos", which means "self-governing" or "independent". "Ganglia" also comes from Greek, specifically the word "ganglion", meaning "knot" or "tumor". The plural form of "ganglion" is "ganglia", and it is used to refer to groups of nerve cell bodies. Therefore, "autonomic ganglia" refers to the clusters or groups of nerve cell bodies that are part of the autonomic nervous system.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
