autonomic nervous system Flashcards
sympathetic and parasympathetic: compare and contrast the anatomical structure of the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways and relate this to physiological function
what are the two branches of autonomic nervous system
sympathetic and parasympathetic
sympathetic function
fight or flight
parasympathetic function
rest and digest
what does the autonomic nervous system innovate
many visceral and facial organs outside of conscious control
where do parasympathetic neurones synapse
both synapse near/in organ
where do sympathetic neurones synapse
in ganglia in sympathetic chain then at organ
what is the sympathetic neurone exception
sympathetic adrenal which doesn’t pass through ganglia in sympathetic chain
where do pre-ganglionic sympathetic neurones emerge
T1-L3 in spinal cord
where do pre-ganglionic parasympathetic neurones emerge
S2-S4 in spinal cord and cranial
what are the sympathetic innovated structures which are not innovated by parasympathetic
adrenal gland, sweat glands and erector pili muscle
why does anatomy differ between sympathetic and parasympathetic neurones
there is a mass response when sympathetic neurones are activated, as it must mobilise energy for increased activity; however there is a discrete and localised response for parasympathetic, so conserves energy
what is present in the lateral horn of spinal cord
cell bodies of pre-ganglionic neurones; T1-L2/3 for sympathetic neurones and S2-S4 for parasympathetic neurones
what is the function of the ventral roots
motor axons to pass through
what are ramus communicans
a nerve which connects two other nerves, connecting spinal nerves to sympathetic chain
where are white rami located
only where the intermediolateral cell column is present
what is the function of the white rami
carry pre-ganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres from the spinal cord to the sympathetic chain
where are grey rami located
every level of the spinal cord
what is the function of the grey rami
carry post-ganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres from the sympathetic chain to the visceral organs
where do intermediate cell neurones eminate from
intermediolateral cell column (T1-L2)
examples of sympathetic response (pupils, heart rate, diameter of bronchioles, gluoce release, sweat production)
dilates pupils, increases heart rate, increases diameter of bronchioles, stimulates glucose release, increases sweat production
what is the fight or flight response an example of
extreme stress of sympathetic response, as it is normally in balance with parasympathetic
where does the sympathetic nervous system eminate from
spinal cord T1-L3
where does the sympathetic nervous system first synapse
sympathetic vertebral ganglia (chain)
where does the parasympathetic nervous system eminate from
cranial III, VII, IX, X and sacral splanchnic nerves S2-S4 (none in main section of spinal cord)
