Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards
where do most ANS drugs work?
On the efferent side with the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system; some work at the CNS and none work at the Afferent side
explain the concept of orthostatic hypotension
when patients stand up really fast, gravity pulls all the blood to the lower extremities. As this occurs patient can feel lightheaded due to the decrease of the amount of blood reaching the brain.
to prevent this there are baroreceptors in the carotid sinus and aortic sinus to sense the change(decrease) in blood pressure to increase the heart rate and force of contraction and constricting the arteries and arterioles
most organs and tissues receive both parasympathetic and sympathetic signals however what is the overall tone
parasympathetic is slightly dominant
Can you explain how parasympathetic and sympathetic work(as a unit?)
parasympathetic do not work as a unit, they are more discrete. However, sympathetic works more like a unit. Brain sends signals to all sympathetic everywhere in the body
