Question

which of the following is correctly matched?
parasympathetic: short preganglion and long postganglionic fibers
sympathetic: long preganglionic and short postganglionic fibers
sympathetic: short preganglionic and short postganglionic fibers
parasympathetic: contains only preganglionic fibers
sympathetic: short preganglionic and long postganglionic fibers

Explanation:

In the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic division has short preganglionic fibers and long postganglionic fibers. The parasympathetic division has long preganglionic fibers and short postganglionic fibers.

• The first option about parasympathetic (short preganglion and long postganglionic fibers) is incorrect as parasympathetic has long preganglionic fibers.
• The second option (sympathetic: long preganglionic and short postganglionic fibers) is wrong since sympathetic has short preganglionic fibers.
• The third option (sympathetic: short preganglionic and short postganglionic fibers) is incorrect as sympathetic has long postganglionic fibers.
• The fourth option (parasympathetic: contains only preganglionic fibers) is wrong as parasympathetic has both pre - and postganglionic fibers.
• The fifth option (sympathetic: short preganglionic and long postganglionic fibers) is correct.

Answer:

sympathetic: short preganglionic and long postganglionic fibers