- Preface
- Introduction
- Part One Main Features of Structure and Function
- 1 Structure of the Neuron and Organization of Nervous Tissue
- 2 Glia
- 3 Neuronal Excitability
- 4 Synaptic Function
- 5 Neurotransmitters and Their Receptors
- 6 Parts of the Nervous System
- 7 The Coverings of the Brain and the Ventricular System
- 8 The Blood Supply of the CNS
- Part Two Development, Aging, and Plasticity
- 9 Prenatal and Postnatal Development
- 10 The Nervous System and Aging
- 11 Restitution of Function after Brain Damage
- Part Three Sensory Systems
- 12 Sensory Receptors in General
- 13 Peripheral Parts of the Somatosensory System
- 14 Central Parts of the Somatosensory System
- 15 Pain
- 16 The Visual System
- 17 The Auditory System
- 18 The Sense of Equilibrium
- 19 Olfaction and Taste
- Part Four Motor Systems
- 20 Motor Systems and Movements in General
- 21 The Peripheral Motor Neurons and Reflexes
- 22 The Motor Cortical Areas and Descending Pathways
- 23 The Basal Ganglia
- 24 The Cerebellum
- 25 Control of Eye Movements
- Part Five The Brain Stem and the Cranial Nerves
- 26 The Reticular Formation: Premotor Networks, Consciousness, and Sleep
- 27 The Cranial Nerves
- Part Six The Autonomic Nervous System
- 28 Visceral Efferent Neurons: The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Divisions
- 29 Sensory Visceral Neurons and Visceral Reflexes
- 30 The Central Autonomic System: The Hypothalamus
- Part Seven Limbic Structures
- 31 The Amygdala and Other Neuronal Groups with Relation to Emotions
- 32 The Hippocampal Formation: Learning and Memory
- Part Eight The Cerebral Cortex
- 33 The Cerebral Cortex: Intrinsic Organization and Connections
- 34 Functions of the Neocortex
- Literature
- Index
(p. 500) Sensory Visceral Neurons and Visceral Reflexes
- Chapter:
- (p. 500) Sensory Visceral Neurons and Visceral Reflexes
- Author(s):
Per Brodal
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780190228958.003.0029
Chapter 29 deals with visceral afferent neurons bringing sensory information from the viscera to the central nervous system. Such fibers follow sympathetic splanchnic nerves, parasympathetic cranial nerves, and parasympathetic pelvic nerves. Generally, fibers conducting signals from visceral nociceptors follow sympathetic nerves, whereas the parasympathetic nerves contain fibers from other kinds of receptors. The visceral afferent fibers end in the dorsal horn or the solitary nucleus in the brain stem. The normal function of the sensory innervation of the internal organs is related to homeostasis and mediation of visceral reflexes. The reflex centers are in the spinal cord or in the brain stem. The control of micturition is discussed, including spinal reflex mechanisms, the pontine micturition center, and the cerebral cortex. Visceral afferents mediate information from the immune system to the brain, evoking sickness behavior. The special features of visceral pain and the phenomenon of referred pain are discussed.
Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.
Please subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.
For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part One Main Features of Structure and Function
- 1 Structure of the Neuron and Organization of Nervous Tissue
- 2 Glia
- 3 Neuronal Excitability
- 4 Synaptic Function
- 5 Neurotransmitters and Their Receptors
- 6 Parts of the Nervous System
- 7 The Coverings of the Brain and the Ventricular System
- 8 The Blood Supply of the CNS
- Part Two Development, Aging, and Plasticity
- 9 Prenatal and Postnatal Development
- 10 The Nervous System and Aging
- 11 Restitution of Function after Brain Damage
- Part Three Sensory Systems
- 12 Sensory Receptors in General
- 13 Peripheral Parts of the Somatosensory System
- 14 Central Parts of the Somatosensory System
- 15 Pain
- 16 The Visual System
- 17 The Auditory System
- 18 The Sense of Equilibrium
- 19 Olfaction and Taste
- Part Four Motor Systems
- 20 Motor Systems and Movements in General
- 21 The Peripheral Motor Neurons and Reflexes
- 22 The Motor Cortical Areas and Descending Pathways
- 23 The Basal Ganglia
- 24 The Cerebellum
- 25 Control of Eye Movements
- Part Five The Brain Stem and the Cranial Nerves
- 26 The Reticular Formation: Premotor Networks, Consciousness, and Sleep
- 27 The Cranial Nerves
- Part Six The Autonomic Nervous System
- 28 Visceral Efferent Neurons: The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Divisions
- 29 Sensory Visceral Neurons and Visceral Reflexes
- 30 The Central Autonomic System: The Hypothalamus
- Part Seven Limbic Structures
- 31 The Amygdala and Other Neuronal Groups with Relation to Emotions
- 32 The Hippocampal Formation: Learning and Memory
- Part Eight The Cerebral Cortex
- 33 The Cerebral Cortex: Intrinsic Organization and Connections
- 34 Functions of the Neocortex
- Literature
- Index
