Anatomy
Nerves Of The Posterior Abdominal Wall (dave's Notes)
Compiled By Muchiri Simon
Edition: 2024/25
, Medical & Nursing | Anatomy I of IV pages
1. What three nerve types make up the nerves of the posterior abdominal wall?
Somatic nerve, sympathetic nerves, and parasympathetic nerves.
2. What is a somatic nerve?
The somatic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system associated with the voluntary control
3. What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
The parasympathetic nervous system generally works to promote maintenance of the body at rest - feed and
4. What are the three parts of the autonomic nervous system?
SNS, PSNS, and enteric nervous system.
5. What is a sympathetic nerve?
Mobilises the body for fight or flight response. Alongside the other two components of the autonomic nervous
the sympathetic nervous system aids in the control of most of the bodys internal organs. Stressas in the
responseis thought to counteract the parasympathetic system, which generally works to promote maintenance
the body at rest. The comprehensive functions of both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems
There are two kinds of neurons involved in the transmission of any signal through the sympathetic system:
and post-ganglionic. The shorter preganglionic neurons originate from the thoracolumbar region of the spinal
(levels T1L2, specifically) and travel to a ganglion, often one of the paravertebral ganglia, where they synapse
At the synapses within the ganglia, preganglionic neurons release acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on postganglionic neurons. In response to this stimulus postganglionic
two important exceptionsrelease norepinephrine, which activates adrenergic receptors on the peripheral target
The two exceptions mentioned above are postganglionic neurons of sweat glands and chromaffin cells of the
medulla. Postganglionic neurons of sweat glands release acetylcholine for the activation of muscarinic
Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla are analogous to post-ganglionic neurons; the adrenal medulla
in tandem with the sympathetic nervous system and acts as a modified sympathetic ganglion. Within this
gland, pre-ganglionic neurons synapse with chromaffin cells, stimulating the chromaffin to release
6. What is the enteric nervous system?
The enteric nervous system consists of some one hundred million neurons,[4] one thousandth of the number of
in the brain, and essentially equal to the one hundred million neurons in the spinal cord. [5] The enteric
system is embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system, beginning in the esophagus and extending
The neurons of the ENS are collected into two types of ganglia: myenteric (Auerbachs) and submucosal
plexuses.[7] Myenteric plexuses are located between the inner and outer layers of the muscularis externa,
7. What do T12 and L1 supply?
T12 = subcostal. T12 and L2 supply the anterior abdominal wall.
8. List the somatic nerves found on the posterior abdominal wall
Subcostal T12
L2,3,4
Iliohypogastric
Iliolumbar
Ilioinguinal
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Femoral nerve
Genitofemoral nerve
Obturator nerve
Anatomy 2024/25 Edition
Nerves Of The Posterior Abdominal Wall (dave's Notes)
Compiled By Muchiri Simon
Edition: 2024/25
, Medical & Nursing | Anatomy I of IV pages
1. What three nerve types make up the nerves of the posterior abdominal wall?
Somatic nerve, sympathetic nerves, and parasympathetic nerves.
2. What is a somatic nerve?
The somatic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system associated with the voluntary control
3. What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
The parasympathetic nervous system generally works to promote maintenance of the body at rest - feed and
4. What are the three parts of the autonomic nervous system?
SNS, PSNS, and enteric nervous system.
5. What is a sympathetic nerve?
Mobilises the body for fight or flight response. Alongside the other two components of the autonomic nervous
the sympathetic nervous system aids in the control of most of the bodys internal organs. Stressas in the
responseis thought to counteract the parasympathetic system, which generally works to promote maintenance
the body at rest. The comprehensive functions of both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems
There are two kinds of neurons involved in the transmission of any signal through the sympathetic system:
and post-ganglionic. The shorter preganglionic neurons originate from the thoracolumbar region of the spinal
(levels T1L2, specifically) and travel to a ganglion, often one of the paravertebral ganglia, where they synapse
At the synapses within the ganglia, preganglionic neurons release acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on postganglionic neurons. In response to this stimulus postganglionic
two important exceptionsrelease norepinephrine, which activates adrenergic receptors on the peripheral target
The two exceptions mentioned above are postganglionic neurons of sweat glands and chromaffin cells of the
medulla. Postganglionic neurons of sweat glands release acetylcholine for the activation of muscarinic
Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla are analogous to post-ganglionic neurons; the adrenal medulla
in tandem with the sympathetic nervous system and acts as a modified sympathetic ganglion. Within this
gland, pre-ganglionic neurons synapse with chromaffin cells, stimulating the chromaffin to release
6. What is the enteric nervous system?
The enteric nervous system consists of some one hundred million neurons,[4] one thousandth of the number of
in the brain, and essentially equal to the one hundred million neurons in the spinal cord. [5] The enteric
system is embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system, beginning in the esophagus and extending
The neurons of the ENS are collected into two types of ganglia: myenteric (Auerbachs) and submucosal
plexuses.[7] Myenteric plexuses are located between the inner and outer layers of the muscularis externa,
7. What do T12 and L1 supply?
T12 = subcostal. T12 and L2 supply the anterior abdominal wall.
8. List the somatic nerves found on the posterior abdominal wall
Subcostal T12
L2,3,4
Iliohypogastric
Iliolumbar
Ilioinguinal
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Femoral nerve
Genitofemoral nerve
Obturator nerve
Anatomy 2024/25 Edition
