Ganglion

Your body uses many tiny parts to send messages. One important group is called a ganglion.

A ganglion is a group of neuron cell bodies. These cells live in the peripheral nervous system. This system is outside your brain and spine. Ganglia act like relay stations for your body. They help connect different parts of your nervous system.

Think of a ganglion as a middle point. It helps signals move from one place to another. Sometimes, many ganglia connect together. They form a complex web called a plexus.

In the autonomic nervous system, signals move in steps. First, fibers come from the central nervous system. These are called preganglionic fibers. Next, signals move from the ganglion to an organ. These are called postganglionic fibers.

There are three main groups of ganglia in vertebrates. The first type is the dorsal root ganglia. These are also called spinal ganglia. They hold the cell bodies of sensory neurons.

The second type is cranial nerve ganglia. These hold the cell bodies of cranial nerve neurons. The third type is the autonomic ganglia. These hold the cell bodies of autonomic nerves.

Some parts of the body look like ganglia. These are called pseudoganglia. They look like a ganglion, but they are different. A pseudoganglion has mostly nerve fibers. It has very few neuron cell bodies.

You can find these in the radial nerve. They are also in the teres minor muscle. This shows how much detail is in our nerves.

Scientists also study parts in the brain. These are called the basal ganglia. They are actually part of the central nervous system. They connect to the cerebral cortex and the thalamus. They also connect to the brainstem.

These parts help with motor control and learning. They also help with emotions and thinking. Some people call them basal nuclei instead.