Why? Most parasympathetic preganglionic axons are longer than most sympathetic preganglionic axons because most parasympathetic ganglia are in the walls of visceral organs, but most sympathetic ganglia are close to the spinal cord in the sympathetic trunk.
Which nervous system has longer preganglionic fibers?
In general, parasympathetic preganglionic neurons are longer than sympathetic postganglionic neurons (Click here for a comparison of preganglionic neurons and postganglionic neurons in the autonomic nervous system).
How do parasympathetic ganglia differ from sympathetic ganglia?
Parasympathetic ganglia tend to lie close to or within the organs or tissues that their neurons innervate, whereas sympathetic ganglia are located at more distant sites from their target organs.