Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards
Compare the autonomic and somatic nervous systems
Somatic - conscious/voluntary regulation
Autonomic- functions without conscious awareness
Somatic- fibres do not synapse after they leave the central nervouse system
Autonomic- fibres synapse once at a ganglion after they leave the central nervous system
Somatic- innervates skeletal muscle fibres, always stimulatory
Autonomic- innervates smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands, can stimulate or inhibit
How many major outputs does the autonomic nervous system have
2 major outputs
What are the 2 main output within the autonomic nervous system
Cranial nerves
Sacral outflow
How many main outputs are there in the sympathetic nervous system
2 main outputs
What are the 2 main outputs of the sympathetic nervous system
Cranial nerves
Sympathetic chain
What is the neurotransmitter present at the somatic motor neuron
Achetylcholine
What neurotransmitter is present in a autonomic motor neuron
At the ganglion = acetylcholine
At the effector = acetylcholine or noradrenaline
What are the functions of the autonomic nervous system
Thermoregulation
Exercise
Digestion
Competition
Sexual function
Components of the autonomic nervous system
Parasympathetic - cranial nerve and sacral outflow
Sympathetic - adrenal amplification
Enteric nervous system
Which cranial nerves carry parasympathetic fibres
3, 7, 9, 10
Oculomotor, facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus
Name an input to the autonomic nervous system
The carotid receptors
Where are carotid body found
At the bifurcation of the carotid artery
Describe the carotid baro-receptor reflex pathway
Signals are sent from the receptors to the brainstem which decides how many signals are sent down the vagus to innervate the heart to increase or decrease heart rate
What is the easiest way to test the autonomic nervous system
Cardiovascular system is the easiest to measure, through heart rate and blood pressure
How do you measure blood pressure and heart rate beat by beat
Through the radial artery
