Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

What is the autonomic nervous system responsible for?

Answer 1

Regulating involuntary bodily functions

Question 2

True or False: The autonomic nervous system controls voluntary movements.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Which branch of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response?

Answer 3

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 4

Which neurotransmitter is primarily used by the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 4

Norepinephrine

Question 5

What is the primary neurotransmitter used by the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 5

Acetylcholine

Question 6

What is the main function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 6

Conserving energy and promoting rest and digestion

Question 7

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is known as the ‘rest and digest’ system?

Answer 7

Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 8

What is the main neurotransmitter released by the preganglionic neurons in both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?

Answer 8

Acetylcholine

Question 9

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for slowing heart rate?

Answer 9

Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 10

What is the term for the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity in the body?

Answer 10

Autonomic tone

Question 11

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for pupil dilation?

Answer 11

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 12

What is the term for the process by which the autonomic nervous system maintains homeostasis?

Answer 12

Autonomic regulation

Question 13

True or False: The autonomic nervous system is under conscious control.

Answer 13

False

Question 14

Which part of the brain plays a key role in regulating the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 14

Hypothalamus

Question 15

What is the term for the involuntary response to a stimulus by the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 15

Reflex

Question 16

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for increasing heart rate?

Answer 16

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 17

What is the term for the process of the autonomic nervous system adjusting to maintain stability in response to changes in the environment?

Answer 17

Homeostasis

Question 18

True or False: The autonomic nervous system controls the contraction of skeletal muscles.

Answer 18

False

Question 19

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for dilating blood vessels?

Answer 19

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 20

What is the term for the division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for intense physical activity?

Answer 20

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 21

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for stimulating saliva production?

Answer 21

Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 22

What is the term for the involuntary control of internal organs by the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 22

Visceral reflexes

Question 23

True or False: The autonomic nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for increasing respiratory rate?

Answer 24

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 25

Adrenergic agonists (sympathomimetics) include agents acting on:

Answer 25

Alpha receptors e.g. α1 agonists or α2 agonists
Beta receptors e.g. β1 agonists or β2 agonists

Question 26

Adrenergic antagonists or blockers (sympatholytics) include agents acting on:

Answer 26

Alpha receptors e.g. α1 antagonists, α2 antagonists or those that work on both receptors (non-selective), collectively termed α antagonists
Beta receptors e.g. β1 antagonists (also called beta blockers) or those that work on both receptors (non-selective), collectively termed β antagonists (Bullock & Manias, 2022).

Question 27

alpha (α) 1 - Abundant on major arteries; associated with vasoconstrictive responses and increased blood pressure

Answer 27

α1 agonists (act on α1 receptors)

Induce vasoconstriction (increase blood pressure [BP])
Used to manage difficult to treat hypotension (e.g. midodrine), used in emergency situations to treat severe hypoperfusion (e.g. adrenaline)
α1 antagonists (affinity for α1 receptors, block normal response)

Induce vasodilation (decrease BP)
Used to manage hypertension (e.g. prazosin)

Question 28

alpha (α) 2 - Abundant on presynaptic terminal; involved with autoregulation of synaptic activity

Answer 28

α2 agonists (act on α2 receptors)

Act as controllers of neurotransmitters (reduce release of neurotransmitters)
May be used for hypertension or as a premedication before surgery (e.g. clonidine)
α2 antagonists (affinity for α2 receptors, block normal response)

Most agents with α2 antagonist effects are non-selective α antagonists

Question 29

beta (β) 1 - Abundant on myocardium; associated with the rate/force of heart’s contraction

Answer 29

β1 agonists (act on β1 receptors)

Increase rate and force of heart contractions (cardiac acceleration)
Used in cardiac emergencies to improve cardiac output and increase BP (e.g. dobutamine)
β1 antagonists (affinity for β1 receptors, block normal response)

Reduce rate and force of heart contractions (cardiac deceleration)
Cardio-selective beta antagonists are called beta blockers and are used to manage hypertension (e.g. metoprolol)

Question 30

beta (β) 2 - Abundant on bronchiolar smooth muscle and blood vessels within skeletal muscle, heart, brain and kidneys; associated with bronchodilation and increased tissue perfusion

Answer 30

β2 agonists (act on β2 receptors)

Induce bronchodilation
Used in respiratory conditions such as asthma (e.g. salbutamol)
β2 antagonists (affinity for β2 receptors, block normal response)

Induce bronchospasm
There is no clinical application for β2 antagonists

Question 31

Beta1 adrenergic receptors are located primarily in the:

Answer 31

Heart

Question 32

Beta2 agonist medications can be used to treat:

Answer 32

Asthma

Question 33

When a medication blocks beta1 adrenergic receptors in the heart, it results in a:

Answer 33

Negative chronotropic effect

Question 34

Dopamine is classified as:

Answer 34

A sympathomimetic

Question 35

Cholinergic pharmacology

Answer 35

Cholinergic pharmacology relates to medications that primarily influence the parasympathetic nerve pathways, however they can also affect sympathetic nerve pathways. Like adrenergic pharmacology, cholinergic pharmacology includes agonists and antagonists. It also includes two principal types of receptors with which agonists and antagonists may interact

Question 36

Nicotinic receptors

Answer 36

activated by nicotine (which mimics the action of acetylcholine)

Question 37

Muscarinic receptors

Answer 37

activated by acetylcholine or the chemical muscarine

Question 38

Nicotinic agonists

Answer 38

include agents which interact with nicotinic receptors to stimulate the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system, but also the CNS and skeletal muscle. These agents include the nicotine found in cigarettes and nicotine patches (Bullock & Manias, 2022). Nicotinic antagonists include agents which interact with nicotinic receptors and produce effects opposite to nicotinic agonists.

Question 39

Muscarinic agonists

Answer 39

include agents which interact with muscarinic receptors to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Muscarinic agonists such as pilocarpine can be used in the management of glaucoma. Conversely, muscarinic antagonists (also known as anticholinergics) include agents which block muscarinic receptor responses and produce effects opposite to those of muscarinic agonists

Question 40

Atropine eye drops are muscarinic receptor agonists used during eye exams to constrict the pupils.

Answer 40

False - Correct. The answer is false. Atropine eye drops are muscarinic receptor antagonists used during eye exams to dilate the pupils.

Question 41

Bethanechol is a muscarinic agonist used to stimulate micturition (bladder emptying).

Answer 41

True - Correct. The answer is true. Bethanechol is a muscarinic agonist used to stimulate micturition (bladder emptying).