Ganglia (anatomy)

Ganglia are clusters of neuronal cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system. They contain synapses or support sensory-neuron cell bodies, depending on their type.

Connect

Neuron: A specialized cell that receives, processes, and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals. Ganglia are defined by the grouping of these cells’ bodies.
Autonomic ganglion: A peripheral ganglion where preganglionic autonomic neurons synapse with postganglionic neurons. It exemplifies the relay function of many peripheral ganglia.
Sympathetic chain: A paired series of paravertebral ganglia extending along the vertebral column. It distributes sympathetic output through linked ganglia beside the spine.
Nucleus (neuroanatomy): A cluster of neuronal cell bodies within the central nervous system. A nucleus resembles a ganglion in composition but lies inside the central nervous system.
Cell body: The part of a neuron containing its nucleus and most of its biosynthetic machinery. Ganglia are anatomical clusters of neuronal cell bodies.
Dorsal root ganglion: A cluster of sensory-neuron cell bodies beside the spinal cord, carrying input from the body into spinal nerves. Its sensory neurons transmit signals without synapsing inside the ganglion.
Celiac ganglion: A major prevertebral sympathetic ganglion supplying abdominal organs through its postganglionic pathways. It is a prominent relay for sympathetic control of abdominal viscera.
Nerve: A bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system, often wrapped in connective-tissue sheaths. A nerve primarily bundles fibers, whereas a ganglion groups neuronal cell bodies.
Axon: A neuronal process that conducts signals away from the cell body toward other cells. Axons connect ganglion neurons with targets or other parts of the nervous system.
Preganglionic fiber: An axon extending from a central autonomic neuron to an autonomic ganglion. It delivers the central nervous system’s signal to an autonomic ganglion.