Afferent and efferent axons in the medial and posterior articular nerves of the cat

Abstract

The goal of this study is to determine the average numbers of afferent axons and postganglionic autonomic (sympathetic) efferent axons supplying the cat knee joint through the medial and posterior articular nerves. Interestingly, both nerves are composed primarily of unmyelinated axons. Only 20% of the axons in the medial articular nerve are myelinated, with the overwhelming majority, 80%, being unmyelinated. The posterior articular nerve has 78% unmyelinated and 22% myelinated axons. Neither nerve contains ventral root efferent axons. The sympathetic chain, in both nerves, contributes no myelinated and only 50% of the unmyelinated axons. The medial and posterior articular nerves are therefore predominantly afferent, since all myelinated and the remaining 50% of the unmyelinated axons arise from the dorsal root ganglion cell. The ratio of afferent unmyelinated to myelinated axons is 2:1. The roles of these afferent unmyelinated axons must now be considered in regard to joint kinesthetics and pain.