autonomic nervous system

Question 1

what are the 2 types of neurons found in the autonomic nervous system

Answer 1

sensory neurons and motor neurons

Question 2

describe the role of sensory neurons

Answer 2

sense the internal environment (organs), eg. heart rate, BP, digestion
organs sensory nerves are called visceral afferent

Question 3

describe the role of motor neurons

Answer 3

respond to changes in internal environment
motor to cardiac, smooth muscle and glands
dual control motor- sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 4

describe the visceral afferents - sensory sensations

Answer 4

sensations from organs to CNS
sense temp., pain, touch
pain = can be ischaemic(reduced blood flow) or colicky(obstruction)

Question 5

describe the sympathetic division of the ANS

Answer 5

supplies all internal organs, all body wall organs and supplies arterioles
responsible for ‘fight or flight’ response

Question 6

outline the pathway for sympathetic outflow

Answer 6

originates in autonomic centres in brain, passes down spinal cord, exits spinal cord at T1-L2, travel to sympathetic chains, pass out into spinal nerves, hitch ride with arteries to reach head, neck organs and skin

Question 7

give an overview of the parasympathetic division of the ANS

Answer 7

often supplies same internal organs as sympathetic(dual control), does nit supply body wall organs or arterioles, responsible for ‘rest and digest’ response

Question 8

outline the pathway for parasympathetic outflow

Answer 8

all parasympathetic axons leave the CNS via sacral spinal nerves(craniosacral outflow), nerves go to internal organs not body wall