What is not true about the sympathetic nervous system ?

Options

A. It has functions antagonistic to those of parasympathetic system
B. It has bilateral ganglionated cords
C. It has longer post ganglionic fibres
D. It has stimulatory influence on all involuntary organs, it supplies

Answer

To determine what is not true about the sympathetic nervous system, we will analyze each of the provided statements:

1. **Functions antagonistic to those of the parasympathetic system**:
- The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is known for its "fight or flight" response, which prepares the body for stressful situations. This is indeed antagonistic to the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which promotes "rest and digest" functions. Therefore, this statement is **true**.

2. **Bilateral ganglionated cords**:
- The sympathetic nervous system has a series of ganglia (clusters of nerve cell bodies) that are arranged in two chains (cords) running parallel to the spinal column on both sides. This statement is also **true**.

3. **Longer postganglionic fibers**:
- In the sympathetic nervous system, the postganglionic fibers are indeed longer compared to the preganglionic fibers. This is because the ganglia are located further away from the target organs. Hence, this statement is **true**.

4. **Stimulatory influence on all involuntary organs**:
- While the sympathetic nervous system does stimulate many involuntary organs, it does not always have a stimulatory effect. For instance, it can inhibit certain functions, such as slowing down digestion or relaxing the bladder. Therefore, this statement is **not true**.

Based on this analysis, the statement that is not true about the sympathetic nervous system is: **"It has a stimulatory influence on all involuntary organs."**