Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
The outflow of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system occurs from which regions of the central nervous system (CNS)?
A
Thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord
B
Cervical and thoracic regions
C
Cervical and sacral regions of the spinal cord
D
Brainstem and sacral regions
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS): It is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response and originates from specific regions of the central nervous system (CNS).
Recall that the sympathetic division has its outflow from the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord. This means it arises from the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord.
Eliminate incorrect options: The cervical region is not involved in the sympathetic outflow, so options mentioning cervical regions can be ruled out.
Note that the brainstem and sacral regions are associated with the parasympathetic division of the ANS, not the sympathetic division. This eliminates the option mentioning brainstem and sacral regions.
Select the correct answer: The thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord are the origin of the sympathetic division's outflow.