Final answer:
The correct difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia is that sympathetic ganglia are near the spinal cord, and parasympathetic ganglia are near or within the target organs.The correct answer is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between ganglia in the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions is a fundamental aspect to understand. This student is asking which statement accurately reflects a difference between the two. The correct answer is b) Ganglia of the sympathetic division are located near the spinal cord, but ganglia of the parasympathetic division are located in or near the target organ. The sympathetic ganglia form a chain alongside the spinal cord, whereas the parasympathetic ganglia, which are sometimes called terminal or intramural ganglia, are found near or within the walls of the target organ. The preganglionic fibers in the sympathetic nervous system are relatively short because they synapse relatively close to the spine, in the sympathetic chain or prevertebral ganglia, and the postganglionic fibers then travel to the target organs. In contrast, the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are long as they travel to the ganglia located near the target organs, and the postganglionic fibers are short because they do not have to travel far to reach the effector tissue.