Sympathetic viscerosomatic reflexes from the ovaries may be found at which spinal levels?

Sympathetic viscerosomatic reflexes from the ovaries may be found at which spinal levels?

• A. T10-T11
• B. L1-L2
• C. C7-T1
• D. T4-T5

Answer: (A)

The ovaries receive sympathetic input from the T10–T11 spinal segments. Viscerosomatic reflexes occur when visceral afferents synapse in the same spinal segments that supply the corresponding somatic tissues, so stimulation of the ovaries can produce reflex changes in the paraspinal muscles around T10–T11. Clinically, this means you’d expect somatic dysfunction or tenderness in the thoracic paraspinals at these levels when there is ovarian visceral activity. Other spinal levels correspond to innervation of different organs and wouldn’t match the ovarian reflex pattern.

The ovaries receive sympathetic input from the T10–T11 spinal segments. Viscerosomatic reflexes occur when visceral afferents synapse in the same spinal segments that supply the corresponding somatic tissues, so stimulation of the ovaries can produce reflex changes in the paraspinal muscles around T10–T11. Clinically, this means you’d expect somatic dysfunction or tenderness in the thoracic paraspinals at these levels when there is ovarian visceral activity. Other spinal levels correspond to innervation of different organs and wouldn’t match the ovarian reflex pattern.