Ganglia autonomic - a group of peripheral nerve ganglia of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, the centers of which are located in the medulla oblongata and the pons; forms the visceral parasympathetic nuclei of the cranial nerves. In humans, the autonomic ganglia are contained in the ganglion plexuses of the cervical and lumbar sections of the sympathetic trunk, innervating mainly the smooth muscles of the internal organs. Syn: parasympathetic ganglion.
A. D. Nozdrachev in his book of the same name “Ganglia” points to the polymorphism of the autonomous ganglion. It contains epithelial-membranous, glandular, with the participation of neuroepithelium, nervous, gangliomesenchymal ganglia, etc. The structure of the autonomous ganglion is characteristic of neurons and spindle-shaped cells, but can be unique in individual cells or groups (for example, in degenerating cells in a mature nociceptive neuron ). The former are very similar to neurons of the central nervous system; they have processes of various calibers, a well-developed peripheral vesicle with processes of pseudopodia and synapses with nodes of Ranvier. The neurons of the second group are single stellate cells, differing from ganglion neurons only in that they lack a fenestrated vesicle. The most highly ordered structures of the ganglion are nerve cells, most of which are stained with substances that support their vital activity in culture (“neuroprotectors”). During their long-term cultivation, many different ganglia are formed, even when the medium is incubated with the same numbers of clonal and donor cells. This ensures good functional interchangeability of one type of cell (type 5 cells) with another type of nervous system cell (neuroglial cells - types 2.1 and 2.2). In mature ganglia, the vessels are poorly developed, the fibers do not form collagen capsules, and therefore they have low mechanical strength. At the same time, during the formation process they create bone bodies, which serve as a mechanical support for young neurons.