Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two major portions the autonomic nervous system is divided into?

A

Parasympathetic and Sympathetic

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2
Q

What is the third (not so major) portion of the autonomic nervous system?

A

Enteric (GI tract)

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3
Q

What is that parasympathetic system chiefly involved in?

A

Maintaining normal (resting) function of body

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4
Q

What is the sympathetic system chiefly involved in?

A

Regulating organ function during excitement or stress

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5
Q

T/F: When both systems act on the same organ, their actions are usually opposite

A

True

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6
Q

What would be a non-invasive way to assess autonomic function of a patient being rushed into the ER?

A

Shine a light into eyes to look for dilation or contraction of pupil

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7
Q

T/F: Both PNS and SNS innervate muscles in the iris

A

True (muscle contraction happen in both cases)

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8
Q

Sympathetic muscle contraction causes ____ in the iris

A

Mydraisis (dilation)

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9
Q

Parasympathetic muscle contraction causes ____ in the iris

A

Myosis (contraction)

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10
Q

How do neurons talk to each other or to other muscles/target organs in the ANS?

A

Neurotransmitters are released

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11
Q

What are the 5 events in the life of a neurotransmitter?

A
  1. Synthesis
  2. Storage
  3. Release
  4. Receptor binding
  5. Disposition (signal must be stopped in some way)
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12
Q

What are 2 major neurotransmitters in the ANS?

A

Acetylcholine (ACh): “Cholinergic” neurons/synapses

Epinephrine/Adrenalin (Epi)
Norepinephrin (NE): “adregergic” neurons/synapses

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13
Q

Where do the nerves originate in the PNS?

A

Medulla and sacral segments of spinal cord

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14
Q

What does the PNS innervate?

A

Cardiac and smooth muscle, gland cells, nerve terminals

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15
Q

What does the SNS innervate?

A

Sweat glangs, cardiac and smooth muscle, gland cells, nerve terminals, renal vascular smooth muscle in the kidney

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16
Q

Describe the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons in the PNS

A

Preganglionic neurons: long; synapse in peripheral ganglia near or in target organ

Postganglionic neurons: short; extend to targets; few postganglionic neurons for every preganglionic neuron

17
Q

Describe the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons in the SNS

A

Preganglionic neurons: short; emerge from intermediolateral nuclei or thoraco-lumbar segments of spinal cord (T1-T3); synapse in paravertebral sympathetic ganglis, prevertebral ganglia, or adrenal medulla.

Postganglionic neurons: Several (as many as 20) for every preganglionic neuron; causes amplification and generalization of the signal

18
Q

Targets of the SNS include:

A

Sweat and salivary glands, heart, lungs, pancreas, stomach, intestine, colon, sexual organs, kidneys, bladder

19
Q

Targets of PNS include:

A

intrinsic eye muscles, salivary and lachrymal glands, heart, lungs, pancreas, stomach, intestine, colon, sexual organs, kidney, bladder

20
Q

Preganglionic neurons of PNS signal through release of _____

A

ACh

21
Q

What kind of receptors do Postganglionic neurons express in the PNS?

A

Nicotinic ACh (nAChR)

22
Q

Postganglionic neurons of PNS signal the target through release of _____

A

ACh

23
Q

What receptors do the target organs express in the PNS?

A

Muscarinic ACh (mAChR)

24
Q

Preganglionic neurons of SNS signal through release of _____

A

ACh

25
Q

What receptors do the postganglionic neurons express in the SNS?

A

Nicotinic ACh (nAChR)

26
Q

Most postganglionic neurons of SNS signel the target through release of ___ or ___

A

Epi or NE

27
Q

What receptors do the target organs of the SNS express?

A

alpha or beta adrenergic receptors

28
Q

NE acts mainly as a _____

A

Neurotransmitter

29
Q

Epi acts mainly as a ____

A

Neurohormone - signals humorally throughout body

30
Q

What are the 2 types of cholinergic receptors?

A
  1. Nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChR)

2. Muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChR)

31
Q

_____ receptors are ion channels that, when activated by agonist, allow influx of Na ions to excite the neuron.

A

nAChR

32
Q

______ receptors are G protein-coupled receptors that signal through second messenger systems to excite the neuron.

A

mAChR