15.2 Division of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 1

What is the function fo the parasympathetic branch of the ANS?

Answer 1

Maintain homeostasis when the body is at rest.
Rest and digest division.
Preganglionic cell bodies housed in the brainstem or lateral gray matter of S2-S4.
Preganglionic axons long w/ few branches (less than 4), postganglionic axons are short.
Ganglia- close to (terminal ganglia) or within (intramural) the effector.

Question 2

What is the function of. the sympathetic branch of the ANS?

Answer 2

Maintain homeostasis at rest or during times of emergency.
Fight or flight side.
Preganglionic cell bodies housed in lateral horns of T2-L2
Preganglionic axons short and branched (more than 20 branches), postgangiolic axons are long.
Ganglia are close to spinal cord. Found on either side of the spinal cord (sympathetic trunk ganglia) or anterior to the spinal cord (prevertebral ganglia).
Because of the many branches that occur pre-ganglion, this is the branch that is responsible for MASS ACTIVATION.

Question 3

What specifically causes mass activation?

Answer 3

Stimulation of the adrenal medulla.
This releases epinephrine and norepinephrine into the blood stream.
Super important in the stress response.