Where are the cell bodies of primary sensory neurons that convey visceral pain from the gut wall to the spinal cord located?

• A Prevertebral (preaortic) ganglia
• B Paravertebral sympathetic chain ganglia
• C Myenteric plexus of the involved segment
• D Dorsal root ganglia of corresponding thoracolumbar segments ✓

Explanation

Visceral pain afferents travel retrograde alongside sympathetic fibres through the sympathetic chain and rami communicantes without synapsing anywhere, reaching pseudounipolar cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia of T1 to L2 (or S2 to S4 for pelvic viscera). Prevertebral and paravertebral ganglia house only postganglionic autonomic neurons, and enteric neurons are entirely motor and local circuit cells, never primary afferent projections to the cord.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.