2/2: Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards
What does the autonomic nervous system control?
Visceral functions of the boddy by monitoring (sensory) and adjusting (motor) activity of cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, glands and adipose tissue
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic (SNS)
Parasympathetic (PNS)
Both systems of the autonomic nervous system are ________, ________ & ________, _________
Involuntary, excitatory & inhibitory, di-synaptic
Do the two autonomic systems oppose eachother when innervating the same tissue?
Yes
Each system is _______ active, but one system is usually predominant at ________
Tonically active; predominant at rest (PNS)
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
Fight or flight
The sympathetic nervous system can selectively activate what?
Effectors or elicit a mass discharge, especially during stress response
What is the hormone for the SNS?
Noraderenergic (NE)/adrenergic (EPI) at the target organ
- BUT cholinergic pre- to post ganglionic
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
Rest and digest
Describe the control mechanisms of the PNS
Almost always specific, activating or inhibiting discrete targets
What hormone works with the PNS?
Cholinergic (ACH)
The actions of the SNS and PNS __________ one another
Antagonize
The PNS works with what areas of the body?
Craniosacral
- neurons leave from brain or sacral region
The SNS works with what areas of the body?
Thoracolumbar
- thoracic region or lumbar region is where the neurons enter or exit
Both the SNS and PNS have what kind of neurons?
Preganglionic nerouns
Where are the SNS and PNS preganglionic cell bodies located?
Lateral gray horn of the spinal cord (SNS) or motor nuclei of cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X (PNS)
All preganglionic terminals release _______ that bind to _______ on the __________ neuron
ACh; nicotinic receptors (type N) (always excitatory -EPSP); postganglionic neuron
What kind of channels are nACh receptors and what are they selective for?
Ligand-gated ion channels (ionotropic); selective for both Na+ and K+
Where are postganglionic neuron cell bodies located?
Outside of the CNS
Where do preganglionic axons of the sympathetic NS exit and go?
Exit through a white ramus into one of the gangliaof the sympathetic chain
Once the sympathetic nervous system axons exit, the fibers will then do what?
- Synapse with postganglionic neurons at the ganglia
- Pass up or down the sympathetic chain, then synapse with a different ganglia
- pass through the chain and out a sympathetic nerve (Splanchnic) where it will synapse in a peripheral sympathetic canglion (celiac, superior mesenteric, or inferior mesenteric)
What is an exception of the places where a synapse can occur for the sympathetic nervous system?
Adrenal medulla
In all scenarios (besides adrenall medulla), where can a synapse occur for the SNS?
Sympathetic chain
Peripheral ganglion
What do almost all sympathetic postganglionic terminals release?
Norepinephrine (NE/adrenaline) at synapse with target cells
What does NE activate?
Alpha and beta receptors
What do most sympathetic post-ganglionic terminals release at sweat glands and what does this activate?
Release ACh at sweat glands to activate muscarinic receptors
Some skeletal muscle vasculature also works this way
What does the adrenal medulla secrete into the bloodstream?
Through chromaffin cells:
80% epinephrine (EPI/adrenaline)
20% NE
EPI and NE then circulate throughout the body and activate adrenergic receptors
How does the adrenal medulla catalyze the converstion of NE to EPI?
Through a specific enzyme
Describe how alpha and beta receptors work in the SNS?
Beta receptors work at low concentration (higher affinity)
Alpha receptors work at high concentrations (lower affinity)
What receptors is norepinephrine more potent to?
Alpha receptors compared to epinephrine
What does Alpha 1 receptor do?
Constricts smooth muscle because
Increase in IP3 = increase Ca = increae contraction
What does alpha 2 receptor do?
Blocks further NE release (presynaptic receptor) by decreasing cAMP
Describe how the catecholamine potency for beta receptors varies
Epi and NE have almost equal potency at Beta 1 receptors
Epi has a MUCh greater potency at Beta 2 receptors than NE
NE has slightly greater potency at Beta 3 receptors than EPI