Autonomic nervous system - sympathetic nervous system (Latin)

The origin of the systema nervosum sympathicum is found within the thoracic and lumbar segments of the medulla spinalis, which is why it is also called the pars thoracolumbalis. The general sympathetic pathway can be simplified into the following components: preganglionic neurons, sympathetic ganglia, and postganglionic neurons. The preganglionic (presynaptic) neurons are located inside the pars thoracica medulla spinalis and pars lumbalis medulla spinalis. They project axons (preganglionic fibers) that synapse with the postganglionic (presynaptic) neurons inside the ganglion sympathicum, which are typically found near the columna vertebralis. The postganglionic neurons give off long axons (postganglionic fibers) that leave the ganglia and project onto visceral effectors, where they release the neurotransmitter norepinephrine.