Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards
What is another name for the parasympathetic nervous system?
Craniosacral
What is another name for the sympathetic nervous system?
Thoracolumbar
What is the segmental length of the sympathetic nervous system?
T1-L2 or L3
What is the segmental length of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Arises from the cranial nerve nuclei and S2-S4
How many neurons are required for both ANS systems and what are they?
2 - presynaptic (preganglionic) neuron and postsynaptic (postganglionic) neuron
Where do sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons sit in relation to the CNS and target organ?
Sympathetic neuron (ganglion) sits closer to the spinal cord and the parasympathetic neuron (ganglion) sits closer to the target organ
What neurotransmitters are associated with sympathetic and parasympathetic postsynaptic neurons?
Sympathetic = norepinephrine Parasympathetic = acetylcholine
Where are the presynaptic cells bodies located?
Intermediolateral cell columns in the lateral horns
What are the two locations of postsynaptic cells?
Paravertebral ganglia or prevertebral ganglia
What is the journey of a neuron?
Presynaptic neuron exits the ventral horn through the ventral root of the spinal nerve and exits via the white rami then travels to the sympathetic ganglion to synapse and become a postsynaptic neuron which then exits via the gray rami
What are the four routes of a presynaptic fiber?
Ascend, descend, synapse at level, or pass through
Which route of the presynaptic neuron goes to the abdominal viscera?
The fibers that pass through
Which fibers have a longer distance to travel?
Postsynaptic fibers
What is the function of a splanchnic nerve?
Allow the presynaptic fibers to pass through to the prevertebral ganglia (fibers that pass through to abdominal viscera)
What are the two locations of the presynaptic neuron of the PSNS?
Gray matter of brain stem of cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X or the gray matter of S2-S4
