Final answer:
Preganglionic fibers in the sympathetic division originate in the lateral horn of the spinal cord and travel to the collateral ganglia in the abdominal cavity, which include the celiac ganglion and the mesenteric ganglia; these ganglia control organs within the cavity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The preganglionic fibers in the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system originate in the lateral horn of the spinal cord. From there, they travel to either chain ganglia adjacent to the vertebral column or to the collateral ganglia, which are situated anterior to the vertebral column in the abdominal cavity.
These collateral ganglia include the celiac ganglion, the superior mesenteric ganglion, and the inferior mesenteric ganglion. These ganglia receive input from the splanchnic nerves as well as from central sympathetic neurons and are primarily responsible for regulating organs within the abdominal cavity.
Unlike the parasympathetic system, where the preganglionic fibers are long, in the sympathetic system, the preganglionic fibers are relatively short and myelinated, while the postganglionic fibers are unmyelinated and longer. This difference relates to the distance from the ganglion to the target effector—being shorter in the parasympathetic system and longer in the sympathetic system.
Once the preganglionic fiber reaches the collateral ganglia, it synapses with a postganglionic neuron, which then projects its axons to the target effector in the abdominal cavity.