Final answer:
Parasympathetic ganglia are typically located near or within the target organs, allowing for short postganglionic fibers, unlike sympathetic ganglia which are positioned alongside the spinal cord and farther from target organs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between ganglia in the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions is that parasympathetic ganglia are located near or within the target organs. This statement is true because in the parasympathetic nervous system, the terminal ganglia (also sometimes referred to as intramural ganglia when they are inside the organ walls) receive input from the cranial nerves or sacral spinal nerves and are typically found close to or inside the effector organs. This location allows the postganglionic parasympathetic fibers, which are relatively short, to project to the target effector or the specific target tissue within the organ. In contrast, the sympathetic ganglia form a chain alongside the spinal cord, which typically positions them farther from the target organs, resulting in longer postganglionic sympathetic fibers.