Anatomy Chapter 14- The Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards
Somatic Nervous System
system responsible for voluntary muscle movements and somatic reflex arcs
Mostly voluntary / Only involuntary is if there’s damage somewhere in the spinal reflex
The autonomic Nervous System
Almost all effectors are visceral
involuntary control
homeostasis is maintained - stable internal environment
regulation of heart rate, blood vessel diameter, pupil size, body temperature, increases/decreases stomach secretions
ANS vs SNS
- Effector organs
- Efferent pathways
- Neurotransmitter effects
Effector organs
SNS- skeletal muscle tissue
ANs- cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands (visceral organs)
Efferent pathways and ganglia
SNS- single neuron extends from CNS to effector
ANS- Consists of a two-neuron chain to reach the effector
Preganglionic neuron
Cell body in the CNS, axon synapses with second motor neuron
Always ends motor output that sends visceral activity
Postganglionic neuron
cell body is outside the CNS, axon extends to effector organ
Ganglia
Site of synapse between the pregangionic neuron and postganglionic neuron
Neurotransmitter effects
SNS- all release acetylcholine (excitatory)
ANS- Release norepinephrine or acetylcholine (excitatory or inhibitory)
ANS Parts
- Parasympathetic
- Sympathetic
Parasympathetic Division Known as…
“Rest and Digest”
Function of Parasympathetic
Directs “housekeeping” activities concerning digestion & waste elimination
heart rate & blood pressure (low bp and heart rate)
airway diameter (bronchi leading into lungs - not a large volume of air needed and airways will be smaller)
pupil diameter (smaller)
reproduction (gamete production increases)
Origin of Fibers of Parasympathetic
the brain and the sacral spinal cord
Preganglionic fibers are long
postganglionic fibers are short
Location of ganglia in parasympathetic
In or near the effector organ
Cranial Portion of Parasympathetic
Supplies fibers to head, neck, thoracic and abdominal regions
Fibers run in oculomotor, facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus cranial nerves
Oculomotor nerve
Innervates smooth muscle in eyes and muscles associated with lens
Controls 4/6 of the extrinsic eye muscles
Facial nerve
Stimulates large glands of the head
keeps nasal passages more fluid
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Activates carotid salivary gland
Produces more salvia and fluids to keep nasal passages more fluid
vagus Nerve
provide fibers to the neck and almost every organ in thoracic & abdominal cavities
parasympathetic division
Cardiac plexus
Supplies fibers to the heart
resting- 72 bpm
Pulmonary plexus
Supplies preganglionic fibers to lung
12 breaths per minute
Esophageal plexus
Serves esophagus
Fibers extend into the abdominal cavity from this plexus that innervates the liver, gallbladder, stomach, etc.
Sacral Portion of the parasympathetic
From pelvic splanchnic nerves
serves pelvic organs and distal portion half of large intestine
will be stimulatory and waste remove
ovaries and testes more active
Sympathetic Division
Fight or Flight
Function of Sympathetic division
Mobilizes the body for action by affecting heart rate and blood pressure, airway diameter, pupil diameter, digestion & waste elimination, reproduction, etc. - slows these things down
Fibers of the sympathetic division
thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord