Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

Parasympathetic nerves perform

Answer 1

• Constrict pupils
• stimulate saliva
• slow heartbeat
• constrict airways
• stimulate stomach activity
• inhibit release of glucose; stimulate gallbladder
• stimulate activity of intestines
• contract bladder
• promote erection of genitals

Question 2

Sympathetic nerves perform

Answer 2

• dilate pupils
• inhibit salivation
• increase heartbeat
• relax airways
• inhibit activity of stomach
• stimulate release of glucose; inhibit gallbladder
• inhibit activity of intestines
• secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine
• relax bladder
• promote ejaculation and vaginal contraction

Question 3

Autonomic nervous system control

Answer 3

blood vessels and internal organs

Question 4

What plays a major role in controlling blood pressure

Answer 4

Autonomic Nervous system

Question 5

Sympathetic system regulates

Answer 5

blood flow sent to organs and tissues during emergency

Question 6

sympathetic system regulates bloodflow by

Answer 6

• vasoconstriction to skin, skeletal muscles and GI tract

- Vasodilation to skeletal muscles

Question 7

Sympathetic neurons

Answer 7

• cell bodies in spinal cord T1-L2
• axon exit spinal column and enter sympathetic trunk (one on each side of column)
• each trunk has 20-25 sympathetic ganglia along posterior body wall

Question 8

What are specific function of the sympathetic nervous system in the thoracic region?

Answer 8

• Regulates flow of blood to skin and skeletal muscle
• shunts blood to organs in need of blood during an emergency
• innervate smooth muscles of they eye
• Innervate salivary glands
• dilation of trachea and bronchi
• innervate the heart

Question 9

What are specific functions for the sympathetic nervous system in the abdomen and pelvis?

Answer 9

• innervate walls of digestive tract, pelvic organs and blood vessels that supply these organs
• decrease function of digestive and urinary systems
• cause vasoconstriction to raise BP
• innervates the adrenal gland
• causes an adrenaline rush

Question 10

What are the two sympathetic neurotransmitters?

Answer 10

• Acetylcholine (ACH): cholinergic synapses are found on sweat gland and arterioles that supply skeletal muscles
• Norepinephrine (NE): multiple locations in the body

Question 11

What are the function of Acetylcholine (cholinergic receptors)?

Answer 11

• vasodilation and increase blood flow to skeletal muscles

- sweating and cooling of the body

Question 12

What are the function of the Norepinephrine (adrenergic receptors)?

Answer 12

• general vasoconstriction and increase systemic blood pressure
• increased heart rate and contraction strength
• relaxation of airways
• decreased digestion and urinary function

Question 13

Parasympathetic neurons facts

Answer 13

• travel with cranial or spinal nerves to innervate cardiac or smooth muscles cells
• cell bodies are in the brainstem or sacral plexus
• do innervate internal organs
• do not innervate skin, muscles or blood vessels
• all neurons release Acetylcholine

Question 14

What are the specific functions of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 14

• Innervate the pupillary constrictor muscle of the eye and allow the shape of the lens to change
• results in constriction of the pupil
• allows the lens to focus on close object
• innervates the lacrimal glands which produces tears
• innervates the salivary glands which produces salivation

Question 15

specific functions of the parasympathetic nervous system

Vagus nerve (CNX) contain parasympathetic neurons which:

Answer 15

• -slows heart rate
• -decrease heart contraction strength
• -constrict trachea and bronchi
• -stimulate activity of the liver, gall bladder and pancreas

Question 16

specific functions of the parasympathetic nervous system

Parasympathetics from sacral region form pelvic splanchnic nerves which:

Answer 16

• stimulate bladder emptying
• stimulate vasodilation of erectile tissue
• increase motility of the lower GI tract and control defecation

Question 17

Autonomic nervous system is controlled by?

Answer 17

Hypothalamus

Question 18

What are central autonomic fibers?

Answer 18

neurons from the hypothalamus that run through brainstem to synapse on autonomic neurons

Question 19

What is the limbic system?

Answer 19

limbic areas regulate emotions, basic drives and memory

it can account for physiological changes as a result of emotions

Question 20

What is autonomic dysreflexia?

Answer 20

• A risk for patients with a spinal cord injury above T6
• Most of the autonomic nervous system is disconnected from the hypothalamic control center
• Patient cannot feel painful stimulus such as a pressure sore, tight clothing or shoes, blocked/kinked catheter
• Body has a large sympathetic response (Continually increasing blood pressure) even though stimulus isn’t felt
• Due to lesion, parasympathetic signals at level of lesion are blocked and can’t mediate sympathetic response
• Parasympathetic response above level of lesion causes bradycardia and vasodilation
• Patients experience a pounding headache, flushing of the skin and sweating above the level of the lesion

Question 21

What is Complex Regional Pain syndrome?

Answer 21

• Abnormal response of the sympathetic nervous system to injury
• Used to be called RSD
• Symptoms include intense, burning pain in the affected area, swelling, edema and red, shiny skin
• Patients are typically hesitant to have the area touched or to move it