[TA] those ganglia of the autonomic (visceral motor) nervous system composed of cholinergic neurons receiving presynaptic fibers from visceral motor neurons in either the brainstem or the middle sacral spinal segments (S2 to S4); on the basis of their location with respect to the organs they innervate, most parasympathetic ganglia, at least those outside the head, can be categorized as juxtamural or intramural ganglia (i.e., located in or on the viscus being innervated); the parasympathetic ganglia of the head include the ciliary, otic, pterygopalatine, and submandibular ganglia.autonomic (visceral motor) division of nervous system. SYN: ganglia parasympathetica [TA].