Which of the following is NOT a parasympathetic pathway considered in OMM?

Which of the following is NOT a parasympathetic pathway considered in OMM?

• A. CN III (oculomotor)
• B. CN VII (facial)
• C. CN IX (glossopharyngeal)
• D. T1-L2 (thoracolumbar sympathetic)

Answer: (D)

Parasympathetic pathways considered in OMM come from cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X, plus sacral nerves S2–S4, delivering rest-and-digest influence to head, thorax, abdomen, and pelvic organs. The pathways from these cranial nerves are responsible for actions like pupil constriction, tear and salivary production, and regulation of thoracic and abdominal viscera via the vagus and other cranial nerves. In contrast, the thoracolumbar region from T1 to L2 carries the sympathetic outflow, which is a different division of the autonomic system. So the option describing the thoracolumbar sympathetic pathway is not a parasympathetic pathway.

Parasympathetic pathways considered in OMM come from cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X, plus sacral nerves S2–S4, delivering rest-and-digest influence to head, thorax, abdomen, and pelvic organs. The pathways from these cranial nerves are responsible for actions like pupil constriction, tear and salivary production, and regulation of thoracic and abdominal viscera via the vagus and other cranial nerves. In contrast, the thoracolumbar region from T1 to L2 carries the sympathetic outflow, which is a different division of the autonomic system. So the option describing the thoracolumbar sympathetic pathway is not a parasympathetic pathway.