Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Postganglionic cell
Introduction
Overview
Overview
In the autonomic nervous system, fibers from the ganglion to the effector organ are called postganglionic fibers.
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters
The neurotransmitters used for postganglionic fibers differ:
- In the parasympathetic division, they are cholinergic (that is, they use acetylcholine as their neurotransmitters.)
- In the sympathetic division, most are adrenergic (that is, they use norepinephrine as their neurotransmitters.) One exception of this is the sympathetic innervation of sweat glands, which uses acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter at both pre and post ganglionic synapses.
External links
External links
- Diagram of postganglionic neuron and its synapse at sns-web.org
- Diagram at University of Waterloo
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