Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

What is the vertebral level range for the whole reproductive system?

1. T10-L1

2. L1-L2

3. T12

4. T8-T10

The correct answer is: T10-L1

The correct answer indicates that the entire reproductive system is primarily innervated by sympathetic fibers originating from the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord, specifically from the T10 to L1 vertebral levels. This range covers the sympathetic pathways that provide neurovascular supply to the reproductive organs, which includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus in females, and the testes and seminal vesicles in males. The sympathetic nerves that innervate the reproductive system arise from the thoracic and upper lumbar segments, reflecting how visceral innervation follows embryonic development, where the reproductive organs originate in the abdomen and later migrate into the pelvis. The T10-L1 segment encompasses the preganglionic sympathetic fibers that synapse in the lumbar and sacral ganglia before reaching the reproductive organs. The other options do not adequately cover the complete sympathetic innervation for the entire reproductive system. The presence of the lower lumbar segments is necessary, as they are involved in specific aspects of the reproductive system's function and control. Therefore, identifying T10 to L1 as the vertebral level range accurately reflects the sympathetic innervation pattern for the reproductive system as a whole.