MTSA Advanced Physiology Test 3 Updated Actual Exam Question and Answer (2026/2027) | Detailed Rationales

MTSA Advanced Physiology Test 3 Updated Actual
Exam Question and Answer (2026/2027) | Detailed
Rationales
• examples of tissues innervated by the ANS -✓✓ -cardiac muscle
-electrical fibers of the heart
-smooth muscle (blood vessels)
-glands
-visceral muscle (GI)

• number of neurons from grey matter of spinal cord to target tissue in the somatic
pathway -✓✓ one

• number of neurons from grey matter of spinal cord to target tissue in the ANS -
✓✓ two (pre-ganglionic and post ganglionic)

• location of cell bodies for ANS pre-ganglionic neurons -✓✓ lateral horns of the
gray matter in the spinal cord

• regions of spinal cord with lateral horns -✓✓ T1-L2
S2-S4

• location in the gray matter of somatic lower motor neurons -✓✓ anterior horn of
the gray matter

• divisions of autonomic nervous system -✓✓ sympathetic and parasympathetic

• another name for the sympathetic nervous system -✓✓ thoracolumbar division

• another name for the parasympathetic nervous system -✓✓ craniosacral division

• rational for the name thoracolumbar -✓✓ because the cell bodies for pre-
ganglionic neurons originate in the lateral horns of the gray matter between T1 and
L2

• rational for the name craniosacral -✓✓ because the cell bodies for the pre
ganglionic neurons originate in the brainstem and the lateral horns in S2-S4

,• cranial nerves with parasympathetic function -✓✓ CN III, VII, IX, X

• site of synapses between pre and post ganglionic neurons in the sympathetic
nervous system -✓✓ sympathetic chain ganglia (most) and collateral ganglia

• number of sympathetic collateral ganglia -✓✓ four

• in the SNS, the preganglionic neuron is... -✓✓ very short

• in the SNS the post ganglionic neuron is -✓✓ long

• in the ANS (both SNS and PNS) the preganglionic neuron is always... -✓✓
myelinated type B fiber

• in the ANS (both SNS and PNS) the post ganglionic neuron is always -✓✓
unmyelinated type C fibers

• are the sympathetic chain ganglia and collateral ganglia close to or far from the
spinal cord -✓✓ close

• in the PNS, the preganglionic neuron is -✓✓ very long (it goes almost all the way
to the target tissue)

• site of synapses between pre and post ganglionic neurons in the parasympathetic
nervous system -✓✓ terminal ganglia

• in the PNS, the post ganglionic neuron is -✓✓ VERY short

• sometimes the PNS terminal ganglia is... -✓✓ in the walls of the target tissue =
VERY VERY short post ganglionic fiber

• almost all tissues have both... -✓✓ SNS and PNS innervation

• ANS response is determined by... -✓✓ whether SNS or PNS predominate

,• even when SNS predominates is there still PNS activity? -✓✓ yes. there can be.
(and the same applies in the other direction)

• three types of ANS pathways -✓✓ -typical SNS pathway
-atypical SNS pathway
-parasympathetic pathway

• another name for the typical SNS pathway -✓✓ sympathetic adrenergic pathway

• another name for the atypical SNS pathway -✓✓ sympathetic cholinergic
pathway

• what is the same in ALL ANS pathways -✓✓ -the neurotransmitter released from
the pre-ganglionic neuron is acetylcholine

-the receptors on the post-synaptic membrane are nicotinic type 2 receptors

• nicotinic type 2 receptors are... -✓✓ fast, ligand gated Na+ channels

• neurotransmitter released by the post ganglionic neuron at the target tissue in the
typical SNS pathway -✓✓ norepinephrine

• receptors on target tissue for the typical SNS pathway -✓✓ adrenergic receptors
(alpha 1, ß1, ß2, etc...)

• only two examples of atypical SNS pathway -✓✓ thermoregulatory sweat glands
and SOME (very few) blood vessels

• what makes the atypical SNS pathway "atypical" -✓✓ the post-ganglionic neuron
releases AcH at the target tissue which binds to muscarinic receptors

• are there any atypical PNS pathways? -✓✓ no. they are all the same

• location of cell bodies for pre-ganglionic neurons in the SNS -✓✓ Lateral horns
between T1 and L2

• location of cell bodies for pre-ganglionic neurons in the PNS -✓✓ brain stem and
S2-S4

, • location of baroreceptors for CN IX -✓✓ internal carotids

• location of baroreceptors for CN X -✓✓ aortic arch

• Baroreceptor tracts from CN IX and CN X join to form -✓✓ tractus solitarius

• the parasympathetic system innervates what part of the heart primarily -✓✓ the
SA node. Thus HR is the only thing directly controlled. Strength of contraction is
decreased by decreased SNS not direct PNS action

• the SNS terminates on what parts of the heart? -✓✓ SA node (rate)
AV node (rate of conduction)
Ventricular Contractive fibers (strength of contraction)

• unique feature of SNS pathway to adrenal medula -✓✓ this pathway doesn't
synapse in the chain ganglion or celiac ganglion but directly on the tissue.

• NT released SNS synapse with adrenal medulla -✓✓ Acetylcholine.

• SNS receptors on the adrenal medulla -✓✓ nicotinic II and thus this tissue is
analogous to post-ganglionic fibers.

• percentage of hormones released from adrenal medulla that is epinephrine -✓✓
80%

• effect of hormone release from the adrenal medulla -✓✓ enhances SNS effects

• tissue that has significant SNS innervation but very limited (if any) PNS
innervation -✓✓ vascular smooth muscle

• dilation of vascular smooth muscle is the result of... -✓✓ a lack of SNS
stimulation. Not from PNS stimulation

• examples of higher brain center effect on autonomic function -✓✓ anxiety =
increased SNS
passing out (vaso-vagal) during IV start