Introduction

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) consists of general visceral efferent (GVE) fibers that create a motor response due to general visceral afferent (GVA) fiber stimulation. Although general visceral afferent fibers are part of the ANS, they are not classified as part of the sympathetic or parasympathetic system. However, these visceral sensory nerves often colocalize within sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.[1] 

GVA fibers carry sensory impulses from internal organs to the central nervous system (CNS). Stimuli that activate GVA fibers include hunger, blood pressure, organ distention, and visceral inflammation.[2] These afferent fibers allow the body to monitor the internal environment and adjust effector organs to maintain homeostasis.

Structure and Function

GVA fibers are primarily pseudounipolar neurons; they initially develop as bipolar neurons before altering their morphology to resemble unipolar neurons.[3] During development, the two processes emerging from the cell body fuse to form a single continuous process with a distal and proximal point, between which lies the cell body. The cell body of a GVA fiber can be found somewhere along a cranial nerve or in the dorsal root of the spinal cord. These GVA cell bodies are, for the most part, extracranial, except for the GVA fibers of the trigeminal nerve, whose nucleus lies within the brainstem.[4] The cell body controls all neuronal functions and allows information to pass between the receptive distal part and the centrally projecting part.

Visceral afferent fibers are supported by Schwann cells, a type of glial cell that supplies nutrients to peripheral nerves and has a role in nerve regeneration.[5] Schwann cells also insulate (myelinate) the axons of neurons from the peripheral nervous system by forming the myelin sheath.[6] This sheath is not continuous, leaving unmyelinated gaps along the axon called nodes of Ranvier. Together, the myelin sheath and nodes of Ranvier improve the axonal conduction velocity resulting in a faster response time.

Three types of sensory receptors can activate GVA fibers: mechanoreceptors, nociceptors, and chemoreceptors. Each of these receptors detects a specific stimulus associated with a different set of nerve fibers. Mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical pressure or physical deformation.[7] They receive their innervation through type II or III A-delta sensory fibers. Nociceptors detect pain and are innervated by type III and IV C fibers.[8] Chemoreceptors detect chemical changes (ie, pH, carbon dioxide, and oxygen levels).[9][10] Cranial nerves innervate this latter receptor type.

Embryology

The nervous system initially arises from neural plate development.[11] An indentation called the neural groove appears along the neural plate in the midline. As neurulation progresses, the neural groove deepens while the neural folds (the borders of the neural plate) converge on the dorsal midline to create the neural tube.

This neural tube is the future site of the CNS. The neural crest develops on the roof plate of the neural tube. Neural crest cells transition from epithelial to mesenchymal cells, dividing from the neuroepithelium and migrating through the periphery. These neural crest cells differentiate into varied cell types, including cells of the PNS.[12] Further differentiation of PNS cells leads to the development of GVA fibers.

Blood Supply and Lymphatics

Vasa nervorum vessels are the main blood supply for GVA fibers. These small arteries branch off from adjacent blood vessels and supply nutrients to each peripheral nerve.[13]

Nerves

Once the sensory receptor is activated, the GVA impulse travels through the pseudounipolar neurons to reach the CNS. When the GVA fiber reaches the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, it terminates on a second-order neuron. [14] These neurons then ascend upwards into the brain for further processing. Under normal circumstances, visceral afferent activity does not reach the level of consciousness. However, if the visceral afferent activity is pain-related, it can reach the level of consciousness. Visceral pain is frequently felt in an area remote from the location of the affected organ; this is known as referred pain. The chart at the end of this article provides more information about where referred pain appears for specific organs.

The cranial nerves with GVA fibers are the facial nerve (CN VII), the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), and the vagus nerve (CN X). The facial nerve has a small number of GVA fibers and primarily uses sensory neurons in the geniculate ganglion.[15] The glossopharyngeal nerve provides GVA fibers to the carotid sinus, carotid body, and other structures.[16] 

The carotid sinus is located proximally to the internal carotid artery and contains baroreceptors sensitive to blood pressure. The carotid body is located at the bifurcation of the carotid artery with chemoreceptors that measure partial pressures of oxygen. Fibers from both the carotid sinus and the carotid body terminate on the solitary nucleus. Other anatomical structures innervated by GVA fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve include the mucosal membranes of the inner surface of the middle ear, the Eustachian tube, the tonsils, the posterior third of the tongue, and the posterior/upper surfaces of the pharynx. Fibers from these areas contain cell bodies in the inferior ganglion of CN IX and terminate in the nucleus of the solitary tract. 

The vagus nerve has GVA fibers in the tongue, larynx, pharynx, trachea, esophagus, lungs, bronchi, stomach, heart, and intestines.[17] Lung GVA fibers help regulate the depth of breathing. Cardiac vagal fibers innervate the aortic arch baroreceptors. Vagal GVA fibers innervate chemoreceptors of the abdomen, heart, bronchi, and carotid body.[18] All these vagal fiber cell bodies can be found within the inferior ganglia. The central processes of these neurons enter the medulla and terminate on the nucleus of the solitary tract.

Muscles

Stimulation of GVA fibers influences the motor response of their respective GVE fibers. These visceromotor fibers innervate either smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, or glands.

Physiologic Variants

Receptors associated with GVA fibers will vary in sensitivity and affect the body's ability to maintain homeostasis. Upregulation or downregulation of these receptors will change the intensity of the signal propagated through the afferent fiber. This intensity is of particular importance in the perception of referred pain.

Accurate interpretation of nerve conduction studies requires understanding variations in the anatomy of nerves.[19] This knowledge becomes increasingly important for patients that need to undergo surgery. Correctly mapping a patient's nerve variants can reduce surgical risk.

Surgical Considerations

Denervation of GVA fibers can be the desired outcome of surgical treatment or the problematic sequelae of invasive intervention. A disorder with a denervation treatment is carotid sinus syndrome caused by overactive carotid sinus baroreceptor stimulation.[20] This syndrome can cause temporary loss of consciousness and recurrent dizziness. Surgical denervation of the carotid sinus leads to a decrease in sympathetic and vagal baroreflex sensitivity. However, it increases blood pressure variability without leading to chronic hypertension.[21]

Clinical Significance

Diabetic neuropathy is a pathologic process that may occur in those with diabetes. Hyperglycemia interferes with nerve conduction and weakens the walls of the vasa nervorum, depriving nerves of oxygen and nutrients. Diabetic neuropathy can affect the nerves of the autonomic system, especially GVA fibers, potentially contributing to dysfunctional blood pressure regulation and gastroparesis.[22] GVA fibers affected by diabetic neuropathy have a reduced GVE fiber response.

Current knowledge indicates that referred pain occurs because multiple primary sensory neurons converge on a single ascending tract in the spinal cord. When painful stimuli activate visceral receptors, the brain is unable to distinguish between the visceral signals and somatic signals; the brain interprets that the pain is coming from somatic regions (e, skin, skeletal musculature, and bones) of the body rather than the visceral regions (ie, spleen, kidney, and heart). For example, patients with angina pectoris, a type of cardiac pain, experience referred pain in the chest and upper left arm.[23] 

Another example is patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD), who may experience referred pain in the teeth or other sections in the orofacial area.[24] Areas of referred pain can be cross-referenced against dermatome charts to help identify the visceral organ sending pain signals.