Question

Within the ANS, where are cholinergic versus adrenergic fibers found?

Answer 1

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) is that part of peripheral nervous system which controls the functions of smooth muscles, glands and viscera. ANS is divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous system arises from the thoraco-lumbar outflow of spinal cord with their ganglia arranged as sympathetic chains on either side of spinal cord hence their pre-ganglionic fibers are short and post-ganglionic fibers are long. The parasympathetic nervous system arises from the cranio-sacral outflow with their ganglia located close to the effector organs hence its pre-ganglionic fibers are long and post-ganglionic fibers are short.  

Cholinergic fibers are those nerve fibers which transmits nerve signals to other nerve cells or neuromuscular junction of glands and viscera via the release of acetylcholine as the neurotransmitter. Adrenergic fibers are those nerve fibers which transmits nerve signals to other nerve cells or neuromuscular junction or glands and viscera via the release of nor epinephrine (nor adrenaline) or epinephrine (adrenaline) as the neurotransmitter. In the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the pre-ganglionic fibers of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and post ganglionic fibers of parasympathetic nervous system are cholinergic fibers are they transmit nerve signals via the release of acetylcholine as the neurotransmitter. The post ganglionic fibers of sympathetic nervous system transmit nerve signals via the release of nor epinephrine (nor adrenaline) or epinephrine (adrenaline) as the neurotransmitter hence they are known as adrenergic fibers.