Does the sympathetic system have nuclei in the brainstem?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. Both

Answer: (B)

Sympathetic activity starts in the spinal cord, not the brainstem. The cell bodies of the preganglionic sympathetic neurons reside in the intermediolateral cell column (the lateral horn) from about T1 to L2/3. From there, these preganglionic fibers synapse in sympathetic ganglia with postganglionic neurons that reach targets throughout the body. In contrast, the brainstem houses parasympathetic nuclei for cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X (for example, Edinger-Westphal, superior and inferior salivatory nuclei, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, and nucleus ambiguus). There are brainstem areas that help regulate sympathetic outflow, but there are no dedicated sympathetic nuclei contained within the brainstem itself. Therefore, the statement is false.