The dorsal motor nucleus is associated with which autonomic division?

The dorsal motor nucleus is associated with which autonomic division?

• A. Somatic motor
• B. Visceral parasympathetic
• C. Sympathetic
• D. Cerebellar

Answer: (B)

The dorsal motor nucleus houses preganglionic parasympathetic neurons that form much of the vagus nerve, providing parasympathetic output to most thoracic and abdominal viscera. This makes it part of the visceral parasympathetic division. It isn’t related to somatic motor control, which uses ventral horn motor neurons to skeletal muscle, nor to the sympathetic system, whose preganglionic neurons are in the thoracolumbar spinal cord. It also isn’t a cerebellar structure, which is involved in coordination rather than autonomic output.

The dorsal motor nucleus houses preganglionic parasympathetic neurons that form much of the vagus nerve, providing parasympathetic output to most thoracic and abdominal viscera. This makes it part of the visceral parasympathetic division. It isn’t related to somatic motor control, which uses ventral horn motor neurons to skeletal muscle, nor to the sympathetic system, whose preganglionic neurons are in the thoracolumbar spinal cord. It also isn’t a cerebellar structure, which is involved in coordination rather than autonomic output.