Parasympathetic level for the ovaries/testes.

Parasympathetic level for the ovaries/testes.

• A. S2-4 Pelvic Splanchnic
• B. T10-L2
• C. T9-11
• D. C2-Vagus

Answer: (D)

Parasympathetic input to the ovaries and testes comes from the vagus nerve, a cranial outflow. The preganglionic neurons are in the dorsal motor nucleus of CN X and its fibers travel with the vagus into the abdomen, reaching the gonads along the gonadal vessels to provide parasympathetic innervation. Pelvic splanchnic nerves from S2–S4 govern pelvic viscera, not the gonads, and thoracolumbar levels (sympathetic) do not supply parasympathetic fibers. So the parasympathetic source for the gonads is the vagus, i.e., cranial parasympathetic input.

Parasympathetic input to the ovaries and testes comes from the vagus nerve, a cranial outflow. The preganglionic neurons are in the dorsal motor nucleus of CN X and its fibers travel with the vagus into the abdomen, reaching the gonads along the gonadal vessels to provide parasympathetic innervation. Pelvic splanchnic nerves from S2–S4 govern pelvic viscera, not the gonads, and thoracolumbar levels (sympathetic) do not supply parasympathetic fibers. So the parasympathetic source for the gonads is the vagus, i.e., cranial parasympathetic input.