Adrenergic Receptors

Question 1

What are the names of the receptors within the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)?

Answer 1

Beta One Receptors
Beta Two Receptors
Alpha One Receptors

Question 2

What hormones/neurotransmitters activate the receptors of the SNS?

Answer 2

Epinephrine

Norepinephrine

Question 3

What is the name of a chemical that acts as both a hormone and a neurotransmitter?

Answer 3

Catecholamine

Question 4

When a catecholamine comes from the adrenal medulla, what is its primary role?

Answer 4

Acting as a hormone

Question 5

When a catecholamine comes from the brain/Central Nervous System, what is its primary role?

Answer 5

Acting as a neurotransmitter

Question 6

What effects does beta one activation have on the heart?

Answer 6

Increases heart rate
Increases the force of cardiac contractions
Increases impulse conduction
Increases cardiac output

Question 7

What effects does beta one activation have on the kidneys?

Answer 7

Releases renin from the kidneys
Activates Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)
Promotes vasoconstriction, which increases blood pressure

Question 8

What effects does beta two activation have on the lungs?

Answer 8

Promotes bronchodilation
Increases air flow through the bronchioles
More air and oxygen delivered to alveoli, improves gas exchange

Question 9

What effects does beta two activation have on the arterioles of the heart, lungs and skeletal muscles?

Answer 9

Promotes vasodilation
Increases the blood flow to these organs/muscles/tissues
Increases the amount of oxygen that is being delivered to these organs/muscles/tissues

Question 10

What effects does beta two activation have on the skeletal muscles?

Answer 10

Increases contraction of the muscles

Question 11

Does a provider want to purposefully block beta two receptors? Why or why not?

Answer 11

No!
If beta two receptors are blocked it will cause bronchoconstriction, restricting air flow and gas exchange
This will then cause difficulty breathing and respiratory complications

Question 12

What effects does alpha one activation have on the peripheral arteries?

Answer 12

Promotes vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure

Question 13

What effects does alpha one activation have on the bladder?

Answer 13

Bladder neck contraction, causing resistance

Question 14

What is a drug called if it works on the SNS receptors?

Answer 14

An adrenergic drug

Question 15

What is a drug called if it works with SNS receptors?

Answer 15

An adrenergic agonist drug

Question 16

What is a drug called if it works against/blocks SNS receptors?

Answer 16

An adrenergic antagonist drug

Question 17

If a drug is selective, what does that mean?

Answer 17

It will only selectively work on specific receptors

Question 18

If a drug is nonselective, what does that mean?

Answer 18

It will work on its intended receptors but will have effects on other receptors within the same class

Question 19

What are the three principal functions of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 19

Regulate the heart
Regulate secretory glands
Regulate smooth muscle

Question 20

What actions occur within the body when the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) is activated?

Answer 20

Heart rate slows to baseline
Increased gastric secretion
Bladder empties
Bowels empty
Pupils constrict to focus the eye for near vision
Bronchial smooth muscle constricts to baseline

Question 21

What actions occur in the body when the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is activated?

Answer 21

Heart rate increases
Blood pressure increases
Blood is directed to skeletal muscles
Bronchioles dilate
Pupils dilate
Glycogen (Stored energy) is converted to glucose for  use by brain and muscles

Question 22

What effect does beta two have on the liver?

Answer 22

When beta two is activated by epinephrine and norepinephrine, glycogenolysis occurs in the liver (glycogen turns to glucose)