Autonomic Phsiology

Question 1

Name one similarity between the autonomic and somatic nervous systems?

Answer 1

They are both controlled by the efferent nervous system

Question 2

Name 6 differences between the autonomic and somatic nervous system.

Answer 2

1. Autonomic is involuntary. Somatic is voluntary
2. Autonomic controls smooth, cardiac, glands and GI tract. Somatic controls skeletal muscle.
3. Autonomic involves pre and post ganglion fibres. Somatic is one long pathway.
4. Autonomic involves metatropic (G protein) receptors. Somatic involves ionotropic receptors.
5. Autonomic is less specialised, whereas the somatic involves the specialised NMJ
6. Autonomic nervous system may inhibit target, whereas the somatic system is always excitatory.

Question 3

From what two body regions does the sympathetic system leave the spinal cord?

Answer 3

Thoracic and Lumbar

Question 4

From what two body regions does the para-sympathetic system leave the spinal cord?

Answer 4

Cranial and Sacral

Question 5

What are the neurotransmitters involved in the sympathetic system?

Answer 5

Acetylcholine and Adrenaline/ Noradrenaline

Question 6

What is the neurotransmitter involved in the parasympathetic system?

Answer 6

Acetylcholine

Question 7

What type of receptors does adrenaline/ noradrenaline work on?

Answer 7

Adrenergic- alpha and beta receptors

Question 8

What type of receptors does acetylcholine act on?

Answer 8

Cholinergic- Muscarinic and Nicotinic

Question 9

What type of receptor is a muscarinic receptor?

Answer 9

G protein coupled (i.e. metatropic)

Question 10

What neurotransmitter is released from the pre-ganglion fibre in the sympathetic system?

Answer 10

Acetylcholine to act on nicotinic receptors

Question 11

What neurotransmitter is released from the post-ganglion fibre in the sympathetic system?

Answer 11

Adrenaline/ Noradrenaline to act on alpha or beta receptors

Question 12

What neurotransmitter is released from the pre-ganglion fibre in the para-sympathetic system?

Answer 12

Acetylcholine to act on nicotinic receptors

Question 13

What neurotransmitter is released from the post-ganglion fibre in the para-sympathetic system?

Answer 13

Acetylcholine to act on muscarinic receptors

Question 14

What type of fibres innervate sweat glands

Answer 14

Sympathetic cholinergic

Question 15

What difference is there in ganglia position in sympathetic and parasympathetic systems?

Answer 15

Sympathetic system- Ganglion is closer to spinal cord

Parasympathetic system- Ganglion closer to target tissue

Question 16

Describe the sympathetic system of the eye?

Answer 16

1. B2 receptors activated on ciliary muscles of lens, which relax and eye focuses far away
2. A1 receptors activated on radial muscle of iris to contract, increasing pupil diameter

Question 17

Describe the parasympathetic system of the eye?

Answer 17

1. Activates muscarinic receptors on ciliary muscle of lens to contract, focusing eye close up
2. Activates muscarinic receptors on sphincter muscle which contracts, decreasing pupil diameter.

Question 18

Describe the sympathetic system of the heart?

Answer 18

1. Activates B1 receptors on pacemaker cells to increase heart rate.
2. Activates B1 receptors on myocytes to make contraction stronger

Question 19

Describe the parasympathetic system of the heart?

Answer 19

Activates muscarinic receptors on pacemaker cells to decrease heart rate

Question 20

Describe the sympathetic system of the lungs?

Answer 20

Activates B2 receptors on smooth muscle of airways to relax and dilate airways

Question 21

Describe the parasympathetic system of the lungs?

Answer 21

Activates muscarinic receptors on smooth muscle of airways to contract and constrict airways.

Question 22

Describe the sympathetic system of the blood vessels?

Answer 22

1. Activates A1 receptors on smooth muscle of vessels to contract muscle and decrease blood flow.
2. Activates B2 receptors on smooth muscle of vessels to make muscle relax and blood flow increase
   THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF TONICITY

Question 23

Describe the sympathetic system of the gut?

Answer 23

1. Activates alpha or beta receptors on the smooth muscle of the gut decrease gut motility
2. Activates alpha receptors on pancreas to inhibit enzyme secretion

Question 24

Describe the parasympathetic system of the gut?

Answer 24

1. Activates muscarinic receptors on smooth muscle of gut to increase gut motility.
2. Activates muscarinic receptors on pancreas to increase enzyme secretion.

Question 25

Describe the sympathetic system of energy stores?

Answer 25

1. Activates alpha/ beta receptors on the liver to stimulate glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis
2. Activates alpha/ beta receptors on fat cells to increase lipolysis

Question 26

Describe the sympathetic system of the salivary glands?

Answer 26

Activates B receptors to stimulate thick enzyme rich secretion

Question 27

Describe the parasympathetic system of the salivary glands?

Answer 27

Activates muscarinic receptors to stimulate watery secretion

Question 28

Describe the sympathetic system of the bladder?

Answer 28

1. Activates B2 receptors on the smooth muscle of bladder wall to relax it and reduce pressure
2. Activates alpha 1 receptors on smooth muscle on sphincter to contract it and stop urination

Question 29

Describe the parasympathetic system of the bladder?

Answer 29

1. Activates muscarinic receptors on the smooth muscle of the bladder wall to contract it and build pressure
2. Activates muscarinic receptors on the smooth muscle of the sphincter to relax it and allow urination.

Question 30

Describe the sympathetic system of the reproductive tract?

Answer 30

Activates alpha 1 receptors on smooth muscle of urethra to cause contraction and ejaculation.

Question 31

Describe the para-sympathetic system of the reproductive tract?

Answer 31

Activates muscarinic receptors on the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum to relax it and cause erection