Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

The autonomic nervous system is split into two sub groups, what are they?

Answer 1

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 2

Which two areas of the spine do the sympathetic nerves come from?

Answer 2

Thoracic and lumbar

Question 3

What do autonomic nerves pass through before going to their target organ?

Answer 3

Ganglia

Question 4

Which neurotransmitter do all the autonomic efferent from the CNS use?

Answer 4

Acetylcholine

Question 5

does the adrenal gland use ganglia?

Answer 5

No, it is activated directly by acetylcholine

Question 6

Which receptor does nicotine work on?

Answer 6

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Question 7

What type of receptor is the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor?

Answer 7

A ligand dated ion channel

Question 8

Why do some drugs that use the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor work better on different parts of the body?

Answer 8

Because the nAChR can have different subunits in different areas of the body

Question 9

Which ion are nAChR permeable to and this allow depolarisation and excitation of the post ganglion is nerve?

Answer 9

Sodium (Na+)

Question 10

Why do drugs that use the nAChR have lots of side effects?

Answer 10

Because they are all over the body so cannot act locally/specifically

Question 11

What is an example of a nAChR agonist? And what are it’s effects on the body?

Answer 11

Nicotine

Tachycardia, increased blood pressure, increased secretions, variable GI activity

Question 12

What is a nAChR antagonist and what are it’s effects on the body?

Answer 12

Tubocurarine

Decreased blood pressure, decreased secretions, GI paralysis

Question 13

What is the main post-ganglionic neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 13

Noradrenaline

Question 14

What is the difference between adrenaline and noradrenaline?

Answer 14

Adrenaline is a hormone

Noradrenaline is a neurotransmitter

Question 15

What type of receptors are adrenergic receptors?

Answer 15

G-protein coupled receptors

Question 16

What are the characteristics of adrenergic alpha1 receptors?

Answer 16

Gq protein coupled
Causes increased cell Ca2+ and increased cell activity
In blood vessels, GI sphincters, eyes, salivary gland
Constriction

Question 17

What are the characteristics of the adrenergic alpha2 receptors?

Answer 17

Gi protein coupled
Decreased CAMP and decreased cell activity
In CNS
Decreased sympathetic activity

Question 18

What are the characteristics of adrenergic b1 receptors?

Answer 18

Gs protein coupled
Increased camp increased cell activity
In the heart
Increase heart rate

Question 19

What are the characteristics of adrenergic beta2 receptors?

Answer 19

Gs protein coupled
Increase CAMP, smooth muscle relaxation 
In the lungs, blood vessels, smooth muscle
Bronchodilaton
Vasodilation
Uterine dilation

Question 20

What are the characteristics of adrenergic beta3 receptors?

Answer 20

Gs protein coupled
Increased CAMP
In fatty tissues, skeletal muscle, bladder muscle (metabolically associated)
Lipolysis, thermogenesis, bladder relaxation

Question 21

What does adrenaline cause the body to do?

Answer 21

Vasoconstriction
Increases heart rate
Bronchodilation

Question 22

Which adrenergic receptor does noradrenaline have a low affinity for?

Answer 22

Beta2

Question 23

What is the main post ganglionic neurotransmitter used in the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 23

Acetylcholine

Question 24

What is the main post and pre ganglionic neurotransmitter used in the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 24

Acetylcholine

Question 25

What are the pre and post ganglionic receptors used in the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 25

Pre- nicotinic acetylcholine receptor | Post-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor

Question 26

What are the characteristics of the M1 muscarinic receptor?

Answer 26

``` Gq protein coupled Increase cell Ca2+ In CNS, GI tract, salivary and eye glands CNS excitation Gastric secretion ```

Question 27

What are the characteristics of the M2 muscarinic receptor?

Answer 27

Gi protein coupled Decrease cell Ca2+ In CNS and heart Decrease heart rate

Question 28

What are the characteristics of the M3 muscarinic receptor?

Answer 28

``` Gq protein coupled Increase cell Ca2+ In Exocrine glands, smooth muscle, GI, salivary, lungs, bladder Gastric and salivary secretion Gi smooth muscle contraction Vasodilation Bronchoconstriction Bladder contraction ```

Question 29

What is Atropine?

Answer 29

A highly toxic muscarinic receptor antagonist (non-selective)

Question 30

What is oxybutinin and what is it us3d for?

Answer 30

Muscarinic non-selective receptor antagonist | Used for bladder incontinence/overactivity

Question 31

Does the somatic nervous system use ganglia?

Answer 31

No

Question 32

What must happen for muscle reactivation in the somatic nervous system?

Answer 32

The neurotransmitter must be cleared from the post-synaptic cleft

Question 33

How is the neurotransmitter cleared from the post-synaptic cleft?

Answer 33

By the enzyme acetylcholine esterase

Question 34

What is curare?

Answer 34

It is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor non-depolarising competitive antagonist It stops muscle movement

Question 35

What can curare be used for?

Answer 35

Anaesthetic

Question 36

What is suxamethonium?

Answer 36

A nAChR agonist depolarising blocker It holds the receptor blocked so Cannot repolarise Used as muscle relaxant in surgery

Question 37

What is neostigmine?

Answer 37

An acetylcholine esterase inhibitor Stops the clearance of ACh from the cleft Affects all over body Used as a nerve gas weapon

Question 38

What are atropine, ipatropium, hyoscine, oxybutinin examples of?

Answer 38

Muscarinic antagonists