Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system is involved with the involuntary control of?

A

Regulation of the functioning of internal organs

Maintenance of the internal environment

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2
Q

What does the autonomic nervous system directly innervate?

A

Cardiac muscle

Glands

Smooth muscle

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3
Q

What can the autonomic nervous system be divided into?

A

Sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric nervous system

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4
Q

How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system vary in their interaction with metabolic resources?

A

Sympathetic maximises use of metabolic resources

Parasympathetic conserves metabolic resources

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5
Q

How do axons of the ANS reach effector organs, what kind of pathway is this called, and what organ is the only exception to this?

A

Via pre/postganglionic axons with a ganglion in the centre

Disynaptic pathway

Only exception is supply to the adrenal medulla

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6
Q

What is the myelin content of preganglionic and postganglionic?

A

Preganglionic = Myelinated

Postganglionic = Unmyelinated

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7
Q

What neurotransmitter do ganglion cells use, and what receptors do they bind to on postganglionic axons?

A

ACh

Bind to ionotropic nicotinic receptors

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8
Q

What neurotransmitter do postganglionic sympathetic axons use, what type of receptors do the bind to on effector organs, and what is the only exception?

A

Noradrenaline

Bind to metabotropic adrenergic receptors

Only exception is sweat glands, which use ACh

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9
Q

What are the different types of adrenergic receptors and where are they found?

A

alpha-1 (smooth muscle of blood vessels)

Beta-1 (heart)

Beta-2 (bronchial smooth muscle)

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10
Q

What neurotransmitter do postganglionic parasympathetic axons use, what type of receptors do the bind to on effector organs?

A

ACh

Bind to muscarinic metabotropic receptors

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11
Q

What is the sympathetic trunk

A

Interconnected paravertebral ganglia that extends from the cervical region down to the sacral region

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12
Q

Through what do preganglionic fibres enter the sympathetic trunk, and at what levels can this occur?

A

White rami communicans

T1-L2

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13
Q

Through what do postganglionic fibres exit the sympathetic trunk

A

Gray rami communicans

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14
Q

When preganglionic fibres enter the sympathetic trunk one of two things can happen, what are they?

A

1) Can synapse in the ganglion

2) Can pass through the ganglion and and into splanchnic nerves, where they can then synapse onto prevertebral ganglia

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15
Q

Are there more pre or postganglionic fibres, to what ratio is this, and what is the purpose of this?

A

More postganglionic fibres (1:10 ratio)

Allows for mass responses

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16
Q

How do postganglionic fibres from the prevertebral ganglia supply viscera?

A

They form a plexus around the visceral organ

17
Q

What are the three ganglia in the cervical sympathetic trunk?

A

Superior, middle and inferior

18
Q

What causes Horner’s syndrome, and what does it affect?

A

Disruption of sympathetic supply to the head between preganglionic fibres and the hypothalamus (e.g. due to a lesion)

Affects eyelids, pupils and skin of the face

19
Q

What are the different thoracic splanchnic nerves that go to the prevertebral ganglia, and what do they innervate?

A

Greater, Lesser and Least splanchnic nerves

Innervate the abdomen

20
Q

What are the preganglionic fibres of the parasympathetic NS within and what do they supply?

A

Brainstem (supply head, heart, lungs and abdomen)

Grey matter spinal cord that form S2-S4 spinal nerves (pelvic organs)

21
Q

What type of nerves does the brainstem use in the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Cranial nerves

22
Q

What type of nerves does the spinal cord use in the parasympathetic NS?

A

Pelvic splanchnic nerves

23
Q

What cranial nerves are involved in the parasympathetic NS, and what are their cranial nerve nuclei called?

A

Occulomotor nerve = Westphal-Edinger nucleus

Facial nerve = Superior salivatory nucleus

Glossopharyngeal nerve = Inferior salivatory nerve

Vagus nerve = Nucleus ambiguous

24
Q

What do sacral parasympathetic fibres from the spinal cord form?

A

Sacral plexus

25
What are the functions of the sacral plexus?
Contraction of bladder wall and inhibition of sphincter Inhibition of rectal sphincter Vasodilation of erectile tissue
26
What are the 2 plexi of the enteric NS, where are they located and what is their function?
Auerbach's plexus which regulates muscle contraction and is found in between the muscle layers Meissner's plexus regulates glandular secretions and is found on the inside wall