Page 95 - Headlines Histology2024_Neat

Autonomic (sympathetic) ganglia

• They are similar to craniospinal ganglia being made up of a connective
tissue framework containing ganglion and capsule cells. However, they
differ in:

• They have a thin connective tissue capsule.
• The ganglion cells are multipolar and appear polygonal or irregular in

shape.
• The cell bodies are smaller and have the same size (30 ?m).
• The ganglion cells are not arranged in clusters. They are randomly

scattered throughout the ganglia.
• The nuclei are eccentric in position.
• The ganglion cells are surrounded by incomplete capsule of satellite

cells.
• The nerve fibers are thin and non-myelinated.
• Sympathetic ganglia are interconnected to form bilateral sympathetic

chains (trunk) located along the ventral surface of the vertebral column.
• Parasympathetic ganglia are located within or near the effector organs.

The cell bodies may be aggregated as discrete ganglia but more
commonly, parasympathetic ganglia appear as few cell bodies
aggregated together to form minute ganglia scattered in the supportive
connective tissue.

Nerve endings
Sensory nerve endings (Receptors)

• The receptors are impulse detectors nerve endings or specialized cell.
• They convert external or internal stimuli into afferent nerve impulse that

pass to the CNS where they initiate appropriate response.

95