- preganglionic
- Situated proximal to or preceding a ganglion; referring specifically to the p. motor neurons of the autonomic nervous system (located in the spinal cord and brainstem) and the p., myelinated nerve fibers by which they are connected to the autonomic ganglia.
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pre·gan·gli·on·ic -.gaŋ-glē-'än-ik adj anterior or proximal to a ganglion specif being, affecting, involving, or relating to a usu. myelinated efferent nerve fiber arising from a cell body in the central nervous system and terminating in an autonomic ganglion compare POSTGANGLIONIC* * *
adj.describing fibres in a nerve pathway that end in a ganglion, where they form synapses with postganglionic fibres that continue the pathway to the effector organ, muscle or gland.* * *
pre·gan·gli·on·ic (pre″gang-gle-onґik) situated anterior or proximal to a ganglion; said especially of autonomic nerve fibers so located.
Medical dictionary. 2011.