Which tissues are innervated by the visceral nervous system?

Which tissues are innervated by the visceral nervous system?

• A. Innervates the skin and most skeletal muscles
• B. Innervates autonomic ganglia
• C. Innervates enteric nervous system
• D. Innervates the organs of the body (viscera) and the smooth muscle

Answer: (D)

Autonomic (visceral) innervation serves tissues that operate involuntarily, namely the organs and structures made of smooth muscle, as well as glands. This is why the best choice is the one that lists the viscera and smooth muscle as the targets—the autonomic system regulates functions like heart rate, digestion, blood vessel tone, and gland secretion. Autonomic ganglia aren’t the final tissues that the nerves act on; they are relay points where preganglionic fibers meet postganglionic neurons. The enteric nervous system, while a network within the gut that autonomic input can modulate, is not the external target of the visceral nerves in the same sense. So, the correct idea is that the visceral system innervates the organs (viscera) and smooth muscle.

Autonomic (visceral) innervation serves tissues that operate involuntarily, namely the organs and structures made of smooth muscle, as well as glands. This is why the best choice is the one that lists the viscera and smooth muscle as the targets—the autonomic system regulates functions like heart rate, digestion, blood vessel tone, and gland secretion. Autonomic ganglia aren’t the final tissues that the nerves act on; they are relay points where preganglionic fibers meet postganglionic neurons. The enteric nervous system, while a network within the gut that autonomic input can modulate, is not the external target of the visceral nerves in the same sense. So, the correct idea is that the visceral system innervates the organs (viscera) and smooth muscle.