During a retroperitoneal operation, a surgeon cuts the greater splanchnic nerve to relieve chronic pancreatic pain. Where are the cell bodies of the visceral pain afferent fibres that were interrupted?

• A In the celiac ganglion, alongside the postganglionic sympathetic neurons
• B In the intermediolateral column of the thoracic spinal cord
• C In the nodose (inferior vagal) ganglion
• D In the dorsal root ganglia of T5 to T9 spinal nerves ✓

Explanation

Visceral afferent fibres travelling with the splanchnic nerves are pseudounipolar neurons whose cell bodies sit in the dorsal root ganglia of the corresponding thoracic segments, here T5 to T9 for foregut pain. Autonomic ganglia such as the celiac ganglion contain only postganglionic sympathetic neurons and synapses, never afferent cell bodies. Nodose ganglion cell bodies serve vagal afferents carrying physiological information, not nociception relayed through splanchnic routes.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.