Autonomic Nervous System Physiology Flashcards
Functions of ANS
- maintains homeostasis
- flight or flight system
- rest and digest
ANS is part of the _____ neurons
efferent
Effector muscles of ANS
smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, glands
3 division of ANS
- sympathetic
- parasympathetic
- enteric
How many cranial nerves
12 pairs
emerge from brain
How many spinal nerves
31 pairs
mixed nerves - afferent and efferent
Sectors of spinal cord
cervical
thoracic
lumbar
sacral
coccygeal
ANS organization
chain of two neurons that connect CNS and effector
linked by a synapse or ganglion (outside CNS)
excitatory and inhibitory
Preganglionic neuron
cell body in CNS and extends to ganglia
first neuron
lightly myelinated
Postganglionic neuron
cell body in ganglia and extends to target tissue
second neuron
unmyelinated
Neurotransmitters in ANS
Acetylcholine, epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE)
PSNS neuron length
preganglionic neuron is long
postganglionic neuron is short
ganglia is close to target organ
more isolated
SNS neuron length
preganglionic neuron is short
postganglionic neuron is long
ganglia is close to spinal cord
branching and mass discharge
SNS spinal cord sections
thoracic (T1-T12) and lumbar (L1-L2)
PSNS spinal cord sections
cranial (III, VII, IX, X - vagus nerve) and sacral (S2-S4)
What root do SNS autonomic neurons leave
ventral
Collateral ganglia
second set of ganglia in SNS
in front of vertebral column
lie close to viscera (internal organs like abdominal and pelvic)
Sympathetic chain/trunk
chain of ganglia running parallel to spinal cord on each side
3 collateral ganglia
celiac ganglion, superior mesenteric ganglion, inferior mesenteric ganglion
3 pathways for SNS paraganglionic fiber
- synapse immediately with postganglionic neuron in sympathetic ganglion at same level
- travel up or down the chain and synapse in ganglia at other levels
- pass through chain without synapsing, continue to collateral ganglion as splanchnic nerve
Communicated rami
branches between spinal nerve and ganglia
White ramus communicans
branch that leads to ganglion from spinal nerve
myelinated preganglionic
Grey ramus communicans
branch that goes back into spinal nerve
unmyelinated postganglionic
SNS eyes
dilation of pupil
adjustment of far vision
SNS cardiovascular
increase heart rate
force of contraction
SNS blood vessels
constriction of smooth and cardiac
dilation of skeletal
SNS lungs
dilation of bronchioles
inhibition of mucus secretion
SNS digestive tract
decreased motility
inhibition of digestive secretions