ANS Flashcards
What are the two components of the nervous system?
CNS and PNS
The somatic and autonomic nervous system are a part of which division of the nervous system (CNS or PNS)?
PNS
The final common pathway linking the central nervous
system to skeletal muscles is what?
Alpha motor neurons
Efferent axons in the somatic nervous system synapse where?
on effector cells
What are the final common pathways from the CNS to peripheral target organs?
Sympa and parasymp neurons
Does the somatic system have ganglia?
no
Do the sympatheic and parasymp nerves have ganglia?
yes
How do presynaptic sympathetic neurons compare to postsynaptic side?
Short preganglionic
Long post
Parasympathetic ganglia cells are clustered where?
within walls of visceral organs
How do presynaptic PARAsympathetic neurons compare to postsynaptic side?
Long preganglionic
Short postganglionic
Why is the adrenal gland a special case of innervation?
No post synaptic–just hormones released into the blood
What are the two different types of stimuli that the ANS can have?
Excite or inhibit
The somatic α motor neurons are (BLANK) in diameter and therefore allow (BLANK) conduction
The somatic α motor neurons are larger in diameter and therefore allow faster conduction
Where are the cell bodies of the sympathetic division located?
In the intermediolateral columns of the spinal cord, in the thoraco-lumbar section
What are the spinal levels of the sympathetic division?
T1-L3/4
Axons for the preganglionic symp neurons exit the spinal cord and enter what structure?
White rami communicates
Are most preganglionic symp neurons myelinated or unmyelinated?
Myelinated
What are the three routes that sympathetic nerves take after leaving the spinal cord?
- To symp chain, where they synapse
- Through chain, and synapse in specialized ganglia
- Straight to organ (e.g. adrenal medulla)
What are the two regions of the parasympathetic division?
- Cranial outflow
2. Sacral outflow
Where parasympathetic nerves from the cranial division synapse?
Near the organ they innervate
Where parasympathetic nerves from the sacral division synapse?
in a
group of scattered pelvic ganglia
True or false: The pelvic ganglia carry both sympathetic and
parasympathetic fibers
True
What are the two division of the enteric nervous system? Where are they located?
Myenteric (between muscular layers of gut tube)
Submucosal layer (beneath circular muscularis mucosae)
What is the function of the myenteric plexus?
controls GI tract motiliy
What is the function of the submucosal plexus?
ion and fluid transport
True or false: The ENS, cannot function without input from the sympathetic or parasympathetic division.
False, it can
What is the ANS?
The portion of the nervous system that controls most VISCERAL functions, and accommodates coordinated responses to external stimuli
True or false: the somatic and ANS are a part of the CNS
False, only the PNS
What are the three divisions of the ANS?
Symp
Parasymp
Enteric
What is the transmitter used in somatic nerves?
ACh
What is the neurotransmitter used in the parasymp division of the ANS?
Ach
What is the neurotransmitter used in the symp division of the ANS?
NE
What is the significance of the fact that ANS fibers branch out after they synapse?
Can have multiple symptoms in each area
True or false: the eyes and the heart are connected through their parasymp innervation
True
What is meant by the term dual innervation?
That msot organs receive innervation from both the symp and para, but that they are not antagonistic
What are the exceptions to the dual innervation rule, and receive only sympathetic innervation? (6)
Hair follicles Sweat glands Liver Adrenal glands Kidneys Blood vessles
What is the neurotransmitter that all somatic nerves release?
Ach
What is the neurotransmitter that all preganglionic nerves release?
Ach
Parasympathetic post-ganglionic fibers release what neurotransmitter?
Ach
Sympathetic post-ganglionic fibers release what types of neurotransmitters?
Epi/norepi
Dopamine
What is the neurotransmitter that the sympathetic division of the ANS that innervates sweat glands?
Ach
What division of the ANS releases neurotransmitters other that ACh?
postganglionic sympathetic
Why is the sweat gland’s inervation weird?
Its symp innervation, but uses Ach
Symp ASN to cardiac smooth muscle, gland cells, and nerve terminals use what type of neurotransmitter?
NE
Symp ASN to renal vasculature and smooth muscle use what type of neurotransmitter?
Dopa
All parasympathetic neurons use what type of neurotransmitter?
ACh
Somatic nerves use which neurotransmitter?
ACh
What are the five steps to cholinergic transmission?
- synthesis of neurotransmitter
- storage
- release
- Action
- Termination
How is acetylcholine synthesized? What is the pump and enzyme used?
- Choline brought into nerve by choline transporter (CHT)
2. Acetyl-coa + choline = ACh via choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)
What is the group of drugs that can inhibit choline transporters?
Hemicholinums
How is ACh stored?
- Vesicle associated transporter (VAT) stores ACh into vesicles
What is the class of drugs that inhibits the vesicle associated transporter (VAT) for ACh?
Vesamicol
What are the proteins that concentrate vesicles filled with Ach on the nerve terminal membrane?
VAMPs and SNAPs
What triggers the release of transmitter vesicles? What is the step that happens after that?
Influx of Ca, which binds to calmodulin, and interacts with the VAMP to trigger fusion
The acetylcholine vesicle release process is
blocked by botulinum toxin through what?
the enzymatic removal of two amino acids from one or more of
the fusion proteins
How is ACh’s action terminated?
- Degradation by Acetylcholine esterase
2. Reuptake by autoreceptors