Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards
The sympathetic system runs in which vertebrae?
1 - T1 - L2
2 - T1 - S2
3 - C7 - L2
4 - C1 - S5
1 - T1 - L2
What is a group of cell bodies called in the CNS and PNS?
- CNS = nucleus
- PNS = ganglion
Where is the primary site for stimulation of the autonomic system begin in the brain?
1 - thalamus
2 - pons
3 - brain stem
4 - hypothalamus
4 - hypothalamus
- axons travel down spinal cord nucleus (CNS)
- synapse with pre-ganglionic neuron cell bodies in PNS
Once the pre-ganglionic neuron leaves the spinal cord, what are the 2 places the pre-ganglionic neurons can go?
1 = enter sympathetic ganglion (lots of post ganglionic cell bodies) 2 = pass through the sympathetic ganglion (lots of post ganglionic cell bodies) and synapse with the post ganglionic cell bodies in the pre-vertebral ganglion
Sympathetic ganglia can be divided into 2 separate groups, called the para-vertebral (meaning either side of the spine) and pre-vertebral (before the spine) ganglia. What are the para-vertebral ganglia?
- ganglia (groups of cell bodies) that run alongside spinal cord
- all interconnected forming a sympathetic chain
- pre-ganglionic neuron synapse at sympathetic chain with post-synaptic ganglion
Sympathetic ganglia can be divided into 2 separate groups, called the para-vertebral and pre-vertebral ganglia. What are the pre-vertebral ganglia?
- located anteriorly to the spinal column (hence the pre)
- pre-ganglionic neurons pass through sympathetic chain without synapsing
- pre-ganglionic neuron synapses with ganglion at the pre-vertebral ganglia where they synapse with the post-ganglionic nerve
There are 4 pre-vertebral ganglia that come from the sympathetic nervous system, label them on the image below using the labels here:
- aortico-renal ganglia
- superior mesenteric ganglia (near superior mesenteric artery)
- celiac ganglia (wall of aorta)
- inferior mesenteric ganglia (near inferior mesenteric artery)
1 = celiac ganglia (wall of aorta) 2 = superior mesenteric ganglia (near superior mesenteric artery) 3 = inferior mesenteric ganglia (near inferior mesenteric artery) 4 = aortico-renal ganglia
What does di-synaptic mean?
- 2 neurons synapsing together in the ganglia
There are 4 cranial nerves that contribute towards parasympathetic activity. Where do these originate from?
- brain stem
There are 4 cranial nerves that contribute towards parasympathetic activity and originate in the hypothalamus. Some neurons from the hypothalamus are short and synapse with the pre-ganglionic neurons in the brain stem nuclei. There are 4 cranial nerves that have their nuclei in the brain stem and contribute towards parasympathetic activity, what are they?
- remember as 3, 7, 9 and 10
- CN III (3) oculomotor nerve
- CN VII (7) facial nerve
- CN IX (9) glossopharyngeal nerve
- CN X (10) vagus nerve
Which sacral vertebrae have parasympathetic neurons?
1 - L4-L5
2 - L5-S4
3 - S2-S4
4 - S4-S5
3 - S2-S4
- innervates pelvic organs
The parasympathetic system is often referred to as the craniosacral division, why?
- nerves originate from cranium and sacrum
Does the parasympathetic (PS) or sympathetic (S) nervous system have long pre and post ganglionic neurons?
- PS = long pre and short post ganlionic neurons
- S = short pre and long post ganlionic neurons
There are 3 divisions of the autonomic system, what are they?
1 - para-sympathetic
2 - sympathetic
3 - enteric (GIT)
Although the sympathetic nervous system originate from T1 to L2, does that mean the sympathetic nervous system can innervate within the T1 to L2 vertebrae?
- no
- the sympathetic chain allows the sympathetic system to innervate anyway in the body
The general autonomic circuitry has 2 axons, what are these called?
- pre-ganglionic neuron
- post-ganglionic neuron
The general autonomic circuitry has 2 axons, called the pre-ganglionic and post-ganglionic neurons. What organ is the one exception to this rule?
1 - kidneys
2 - adrenal medulla
3 - adrenal cortex
4 - spleen
2 - adrenal medulla
- only has a pre ganglionic neuron
The general autonomic circuitry has 2 axons, called the pre-ganglionic and post-ganglionic neurons. Are both pre and post ganglionic neurons myelinated?
- no
- pre = myelineated (white)
- post = unmyelineated (grey)
What is the main receptor type and neurotransmitter that we have at the synapse between the pre and post ganglionic neuron in the nervous system?
1 - ionotropic nicotinic (Nn and Nm) and serotonin
2 - ionotropic nicotinic (Nn and Nm) and acetylcholine
3 - ionotropic nicotinic (Nn and Nm) and dopamine
4 - ionotropic nicotinic (Nn and Nm) and glutamate
Nn = nicotinic at neurons Nm = nicotinic at muscles
2 - ionotropic nicotinic (Nn and Nm) and acetylcholine
- ionotropic ligand gated (fast response required)
What is the main receptor type and neurotransmitter that we have at the synapse between the post ganglionic neuron and target tissue in the sympathetic nervous system?
1 - metabotropic receptors and neuroadrenalin
2 - metabotropic receptors and acetylcholine
3 - metabotropic receptors and dopamine
4 - metabotropic receptors and serotonin
1 - metabotropic receptors and neuroadrenalin
- metabotropic receptors include a1 and 2 and B1, 2 and 3
The main receptor type and neurotransmitter that we have at the synapse between the post ganglionic neuron and target tissues are metabotropic receptors (a1 and 2 and B1, 2 and 3) and noradrenalin is main neurotransmitter. What is the one exception to this?
1 - sweat glands and acetylcholine
2 - adrenal medulla glands and acetylcholine
3 - kidney glands and acetylcholine
4 - pancreas glands and acetylcholine
1 - sweat glands and acetylcholine
The exception in the pre-ganlgionic neurons is the adrenal medulla. What cells in the adrenal medulla act as a ganglion to synapse with the pre ganglionic neuron?
- chromaffin cells
- binds to acetylcholine
- causes release of adrenalin/noradrenalin
In the parasympathetic system the pre ganglionic neurons are long and the post ganglionic neurons are short. What neurotransmitter binds at both the pre and post ganglion?
1 - neuroadrenalin
2 - acetylcholine
3 - dopamine
4 - serotonin
2 - acetylcholine
In the parasympathetic system the pre ganglionic neurons are long and the post ganglionic neurons are short. What receptors are present on tissue where the post ganglion synapse in the para-sympathetic system?
1 - ionotropic
2 - metabotropic
3 - receptor tyrosine kinase
4- enzyme coupled receptors
2 - metabotropic
- M1, 3 and 5 are Gas
- M2 and 4 are Gai
The para-vertebral ganglia are pre-ganglionic neurons that synapse with the post ganglionic neuron at the paravertebral ganglia, which is essentially the sympathetic chain. How do the pre-ganglionic fibres enter the sympathetic trunk from the spinal cord ventral horn (efferent = effector nerves)?
1 - spinal nerve
2 - white rami communicantes
3 - trunk
4 - dorsal horn
2 - white rami communicantes
- only occurs at the level of T1-L2 vertebrae