Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
A preganglionic fiber is a type of nerve fiber that connects the central nervous system (CNS) to a ganglion in the autonomic nervous system. These fibers are responsible for transmitting motor impulses from the CNS to an autonomic ganglion.
The part of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.
Ganglion: A structure containing a number of nerve cell bodies, typically linked by synapses, and often forming a swelling on a nerve fiber.
Postganglionic Fiber: The nerve fibers that connect autonomic ganglia to target organs or tissues, carrying impulses received from preganglionic fibers