Does the autonomic nervous system use interneurons?

[StarryNights]

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Off of Kaplan's biology notes: The somatic NS can be either monosynaptic between the sensory neuron and motor neuron or polysynaptic (at least one interneuron between sensory and motor neuron). Then it says that the primary difference between the somatic and autonomic systems is that the ANS is a 2-neuron system. I assumed that means monosynaptic and no interneuron.

Then working on TPR Science Workbook, I got a question wrong because I marked that the sympathetic nervous system, being part of the ANS, does not use interneurons to facilitate neural control. This was incorrect and TPR says the sympathetic NS does use interneurons. 😕

I think I'm interpreting the "2-neuron system" of the ANS part from Kaplan incorrectly. Can anyone explain, please?? Thanks a lot!

 

[ChrisKnight]

The 2 neuron system for autonomics means a preganglionic neuron and a postganglionic neuron. The autonomic system is referred to as GVE or general visceral efferent.

Interneurons connect afferent and efferent pathways in the CNS.

 

[JFK90787]

Any chance you can type out the exact question? I did all the TPR problems and the only time I ever remember seeing the term 'interneuon' was for reflexes (reciprocal inhibition)

 

[StarryNights]

The 2 neuron system for autonomics means a preganglionic neuron and a postganglionic neuron. The autonomic system is referred to as GVE or general visceral efferent.

Interneurons connect afferent and efferent pathways in the CNS.

Oh, that makes sense. So what you're saying is that the 2-neuron system refers to the efferent pathway and the interneurons are in between afferent and efferent?

JFK, for your reference, here's the problem (#2 of passage 37):

The sympathic nervous system uses all of the following EXCEPT:
a. motor neurons to innervate glands
b. sensory neurons to innervate blood pressure receptors.
c. interneurons to facilitate neural control
d. motor neurons to innervate skeletal muscle

 

[Isoprop]

Do you see why D is the credited response? No part of the autonomic system controls voluntary skeletal muscle.

 

[StarryNights]

Do you see why D is the credited response? No part of the autonomic system controls voluntary skeletal muscle.

Haha, I saw my mistake after reading the answer, but at the time I was so hung up on choice C that I didn't even glance at D.

 

[puravida85]

Haha, I saw my mistake after reading the answer, but at the time I was so hung up on choice C that I didn't even glance at D.

Just remember about the branching of the Nervous Systems.

Anything skeletal will be involved with the Somatic Systems as opposed to the Autonomic Systems. I always like to think of Automatic for Autonomic. The only caveat to this is the reflex system which is Somatic but is "automatic".