Autonomic nervous system recap

Question 1

The autonomic nervous system is a division of what? (2)

Answer 1

peripheral nervous system

efferent nervous system

Question 2

Sympathetic nerves have which type of outflow

Answer 2

Thoracolumbar outflow

Short preganglionic fibres and long post ganglionic fibres

Question 3

Where are sympathetic ganglia located?

Answer 3

Paravertebral ganglia (sympathetic chain running up and down spinal cord)

Prevertebral ganglia

Question 4

In the sympathetic system, what are the synapses between pre and post ganglionic cells?

Answer 4

Cholinergic (Ach - neurotransmitter)

then Nicotinic receptor

Question 5

In the parasympathetic system, the synapses between pre and post ganglionic cells are of what type?

Answer 5

Cholinergic and nicotinic

Question 6

In the parasympathetic system the synapses between the post ganglionic cells and their targets are of which type?

Answer 6

Cholinergic (Ach)

Muscarinic receptor - acts on muscle

Question 7

Post ganglionic cells in the adrenal medulla (4)

Answer 7

Release adrenaline
Have no axons - just release hormone/neurotransmitter into the blood
Are part of the sympathetic system
Contribute to mass activation - acts on adrenergic receptors throughout the body as hormone is in the blood

Question 8

What type of receptors do adrenaline and Noradrenaline act on?

Answer 8

Adrenergic
Alpha
Beta

Question 9

Acetylcholine acts on which type of receptors?

Answer 9

Nicotinic - integral ion channel

Muscarinic - G protein coupled (second messengers)

Question 10

Adrenergic transmitters?

Answer 10

adrenaline

noradrenaline

Question 11

Cholinergic transmitter

Answer 11

Acetylcholine

Question 12

What does activation of the sympathetic system in the eye cause?

Answer 12

THINK FIGHT OR FLIGHT REACTION

Contraction of radial muscle of the iris = You want to dilate pupil to see more - Sym Noradrenaline on alpha 1 receptors

Relaxation of the ciliary muscle surrounding the lens = you want to be able to see far away - Sym Noradrenaline on Beta 2

Question 13

What does parasympathetic activation cause in the heart?

Answer 13

Decrease in heart rate -
Release of Ach - parasympathetic releases that here

stroke vol not affected as fibres don’t innervate ventricles much

Question 14

In some blood vessels, activation of the sympathetic system causes vasodilation because…

Answer 14

They express beta 2

Question 15

What is different about your Salivary glands and genitalia?

Answer 15

they are innervated by parasympathetic but most other blood vessels aren’t

Question 16

Alpha 1 receptors cause what?

Answer 16

constriction of vessels

Question 17

Beta 2 receptors cause what?

Answer 17

relaxation of smooth muscle

Question 18

Skeletal and cardiac muscles have lots of which type of receptors

Answer 18

Beta 2

also have alpha 1 but more B2

Question 19

How does activation of the sympathetic system affect the lungs?

Answer 19

Relaxation of smooth muscle around the airways- relax airways to get more O2 down into the lungs. A/NA on Beta 2

central resp centres affect things like rate of breathing etc

Question 20

What can autonomic neuropathy cause? (3)

Answer 20

Syncope
Bladder problems
Bowel problems

Question 21

Name some common tests of autonomic function (3)

Answer 21

Cardiovascular response to deep breathing (heart rate changes - vagus nerve affects HR)

Size of CVS response to these shows sympathetic side:-
Valsalva manoeuvre - changes in BP
Tilt test - Changes in BP