Autonomic nervous system Flashcards
What does the ANS do?
Function without conscious effort
Regulates the visceral activities that maintain homeostasis
What are the autonomic function reflexes controlled from?
Centres in the brain and spinal cord
What are the two decisions of the ANS?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
What does the sympathetic division respond to?
stressful and emergency conditions
What does the parasympathetic division respond to?
Most active under ordinary conditions
What are autonomic nerve fibres?
Motor fibres
What do the sympathetic fibres do?
Leave the spinal cord and synapse in paravertebral ganglia
Where do parasympathetic fibres begin?
In the brainstem and sacral region of the spinal cord and synapse in ganglia near viscera
What do parasympathetic postganglionic fibres secrete?
Acetylcholine
What do sympathetic postganglionic fibres secrete?
Norepinephrine
What are the different effects of the autonomic division due to?
The different neurotransmitters the postganglionic fibres release
What is the ANS controlled by?
Brain and spinal cord but is it somewhat independent
What do control centre in the medulla oblongata and hypothalamus utilize?
Autonomic nerve pathways
What do the limbic system and cerebral cortex affect?
The autonomic systems actions
