🚀 go-pugleaf

OK, off the top of my head. The ANS has an extra neuron in the pathway
compared to the somatic (general body) system. In the somatic system, motor
neurons leave the CNS (central nervous system ie brain & spinal cord) and
travel directly to the skeletal muscle that they stimulate. In the ANS,
neurons leaving the CNS are known as preganglionic fibres. They synapse
outside the CNS in the autonomic ganglia and new postganglionic fibres exit
the synapse and innervate smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, glands and fat
cells. They may either stimulate or inhibit these visceral effectors.
And by this last statement, I've answered your second question - they are
termed visceral efferents as they are motor (efferent) neurons going to the
viscera (body organs).
If you need more details about the two divisions of the ANS, check out any
human biology or anatomy & physiology text. Ric Martini has written a good
one and has a website at http://www.prenhall.com/martini/fap. Good luck with
your studies!
Jenny

Cylix wrote:

> 4/24/98
>
> I have a few bio questions:
>
> How do nerve pathways of the ANS differ from other nerve pathways in the
> body?
>
> Why is the ANS sometimes reffered to as the visceral efferent division
> of the nervous system?
>
> Please do not respond to this message after 4/29/98
>
> Thank you in advance.



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Jenny Donovan
ph  (+61) 8 9457 9721
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