5: Autonomic NS

Question 1

Distribution of symp vs parasymp innervation

Answer 1

Sympathetic: all vascular areas of the body
Parasympathetic: head, neck, and trunk viscera (never in body wall or extremities)

Question 2

Major stimulatory function of sympathetic vs parasympathetic nerves

Answer 2

Symp: stimulates vasoconstriction
Parasymp: stimulates glandular secretion

Question 3

Are autonomic plexuses symp or para?

Answer 3

Typically a mix

Question 4

Visceral vs parietal sympathetic innervation

Answer 4

Visceral: organs of the trunk (heart, lungs, liver, gallbladder, GI, spleen, etc.)

Parietal: smooth muscle of the skin (blood vessels) + sweat glands

Question 5

Length of symp vs parasymp pre-synaptic fibers

Answer 5

Symp: presynaptics are short
Para: presynaptics are long