autonomic nervous system

Question 1

what is Shy-Drager syndrome (multiple system atrophy)

Answer 1

loss of intermediolateral cell bodies, causing a loss of the sympathetic nervous system and striatonigral brain areas

Question 2

symptoms of Shy-Drager syndrome (multiple system atrophy)

Answer 2

orthostatic hypotension (decrease in blood pressure when going from sitting to standing), impotence (erectile dysfunction), hypohidrosis (diminished sweat), dry mouth, urinary retention, incontinence (lack of voluntary control over urination or defecation)

Question 3

how is the autonomic nervous system involved in primary hypertension

Answer 3

there is exaggerated sympathetic nerve activity to blood vessels and renal bed, leading to increased circulating volume and vascular tone, causing TPR to increase and thus causing an increase in blood pressure

Question 4

how is the autonomic nervous system involved in heart failure

Answer 4

there is an inability to pump sufficient blood to meet oxygen demand as there is exaggerated sympathetic nerve activity to renal bed, causing hypervolaemia (too much fluid in the blood) and hypernatraemia (too much Na+ in blood), increasing strain on cardiac tissue

Question 5

how is the autonomic nervous system involved in Parkinson’s

Answer 5

early sign is autonomic dysfunction in nucleus tractus solitarius, causing orthostatic hypotension (decrease in blood pressure when going from sitting to standing) and constipation; emerging evidence indicates that it originates in and travels via vagus nerve to brain