Autonomic ns

Question 1

Is the autonomic nervous system voluntary or involuntary?

Answer 1

Largely outside the influence of voluntary control

Question 2

Define autonomic

Answer 2

Self-governing

Question 3

What are the effectors of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 3

Smooth muscle
Cardiac muscle
Glands

Question 4

What does the autonomic nervous system receives info about?

Answer 4

The state of the body

Question 5

What is the main function of the ans?

Answer 5

Maintaining homeostasis

Question 6

Role of the sympathetic ns?

Answer 6

Fight or flight

Question 7

When is the sympathetic ns activated?

Answer 7

Exercise
Excitement
Emergency
Embarassment

Question 8

What causes the sympathetic ns to activate?

Answer 8

Coordinated whole body response or
Discrete and organ specific

Question 9

What is the function of the parasympathetic ns?

Answer 9

Rest and digest

Question 10

When is the pns activated?

Answer 10

Digestion
Defecation
Diuresis

Question 11

How is the pns activated?

Answer 11

Discrete organ specific manner

Question 12

What happens to the eyes in sns?

Answer 12

Pupils dilate to see as much visual field as possible

Question 13

What happens to the heart in sns?

Answer 13

Heart rate and contractility increases

Question 14

What happens to blood vessels in sns?

Answer 14

Dilation leading to heart and muscles,
Constriction to digestive system,
Blood redirection (via coupled receptors)

Question 15

What happens to the lungs in sns?

Answer 15

Widening of bronchioles and bronchi
Breathing rate increases

Question 16

What happens to the liver in sns?

Answer 16

Regulation of glucose
Liver is stimulated to release more glucose
Gluconeogenesis
Glycolysis

Question 17

What are the discrete functions of the sns?

Answer 17

Reproductive systems cause a male and female orgasm

Question 18

What happens to eyes in pns?

Answer 18

Pupil size decreases

Question 19

What happens to the heart in pns?

Answer 19

Heart rate and contractility (in the atria) decreases

Question 20

What happens to the GI tract in pns?

Answer 20

Increased secretion to aid digestion

Question 21

What happens to the bladder in pns?

Answer 21

Voluntary control with the cortical system contracts the bladder to force urine out

Question 22

What happens to reproductive organs in pns?

Answer 22

Maintenance of erection in males

Question 23

What happens to blood vessels in sns as signal rate increases?

Answer 23

The blood vessels constrict

Question 24

What happens to blood vessels in sns as signal rate decreases?

Answer 24

The blood vessel dilates

Question 25

What is the organisation of ans? What is the exception?

Answer 25

CNS -> Peripheral ganglion -> Target cell Exception of adrenal medulla in sns

Question 26

What type of fibre is a preganglionic neuron?

Answer 26

Cholinergic fibres

Question 27

What is a cholinergic fibre?

Answer 27

A fibre that releases ACh as their primary neurotransmitter

Question 28

What does ACh activate?

Answer 28

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Question 29

Where do short, cholinergic preganglionic neurons come from?

Answer 29

The thoracic and lumbar spinal cord

Question 30

What would the G-protein couple to on the heart?

Answer 30

Ga(s) and Gq for adrenergic receptors

Question 31

What is the sympathetic pathway?

Answer 31

Preganglionic fibre -> Short cholinergic preganglionic neurons from t and l spinal cord -> Long adrenergic postganglionic neurons -> Target tissues express alpha and beta adrenergic receptors

Question 32

What is the adrenal medulla?

Answer 32

The adrenal gland on top of the kidney

Question 33

How is the adrenal medulla different to other pathways?

Answer 33

Chromaffin cells release mainly adrenaline Target tissues express alpha and beta adrenergic receptors

Question 34

What is the parasympathetic pathway?

Answer 34

Long cholinergic preganglionic neurons from brainstem and sacral spinal cord -> Short cholinergic postganglionic neurons -> Target tissue expresses muscarinic ACh receptors

Question 35

What is cranial nerve 10?

Answer 35

Vagus nerve

Question 36

What % of parasympathetic flow does cranial nerve 10 outflow?

Answer 36

80%

Question 37

What are the 2 main components of ANS?

Answer 37

Spinal cord Brainstem nuclei

Question 37

What are the 2 main components of ANS?

Answer 37

Spinal cord Brainstem nuclei

Question 38

Role of the spinal cord

Answer 38

Mediates autonomic reflexes Receives sensory afferent and brainstem input

Question 39

Role of the brainstem nuclei

Answer 39

Mediates autonomic reflexes

Question 40

What does the hypothalamus coordinate?

Answer 40

Feeding Thermoregulation Circadian rhythms Water balance Sexual drive Reproduction

Question 41

How does the forebrain regulate ANS?

Answer 41

Cortical processes regulate output e.g. anxiety and fear induce fight or flight

Question 42

How do visceral afferents regulate ANS?

Answer 42

Sensory input from visceral afferent neurons take priority e.g. bladder distension