[TA] the presynaptic (preganglionic) autonomic neurons having cell bodies located in the brain, associated with the motor nuclei of certain cranial nerves [CNs III, VII, IX, and X], or in the gray matter of spinal cord segments S2-S4, and the postsynaptic neurons with which the presynaptic fibers connect (i.e., synapse); in the head, there are four discrete parasympathetic ganglia: ciliary, pterygopalatine, otic, and submandibular/sublingual; in the trunk, the postsynaptic cells occur as isolated intrinsic ganglia.autonomic (visceral motor) division of nervous system SYN: pars parasympathica divisionis automaticae systematis nervosi peripherici [TA], bulbosacral system, craniosacral division of autonomic nervous system, craniosacral nervous system.