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Autonomic Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

The autonomic nervous system exists to

A

control the things we don’t want to think about.

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2
Q

the somatic nervous system sends signals

A

directly to skeletal muscle

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3
Q

the autonomic nervous system sends signals

A

from pre ganglionic fibre (small myelinated) to ganglion to post ganglionic fibre (unmylinated) and finally to smooth muscle, glands, cardiac muscle, GI neurons

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4
Q

ganglion =

A

nerve cell cluster, typically linked by synapses, located in autonomic nervous system

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5
Q

the somatic nervous system has

A
  • specialised neuromuscular junction
  • ionotropic receptors
  • always excites target
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6
Q

the autonomic nervous system has

A
  • less specialised junction
  • metabotropic receptors
  • may excite or inhibit target
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7
Q

sympathetic response causes

A

flight or fight response

  • dilated pupils to see into distance
  • increased heart rate
  • shallow rapid breathing
  • release of catecholeamines which includes adrenaline and noradrenaline
  • tense muscles
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8
Q

parasympathetic response causes

A

rest and digest response

  • slows heart rate
  • conserves energy
  • increases intestinal and gland activity
  • relaxes sphincter muscles in GI tract
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9
Q

Sympathetic nervous system exists from

A

spinal cord in thoracic (T1 - T12) and lumbar (L1 - L2) regions.

short pre-ganglionic chain and then long post-ganglionic chain to target
Ganglia lie close to spinal cord in the sympathetic trunk (paravertebral ganglia), or in collateral ganglia (prevertebral ganglia = celiac, mesenteric

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10
Q

Sympathetic nervous system exists from

A

spinal cord in thoracic (T1 - T12) and lumbar (L1 - L2) regions.

short pre-ganglionic chain and then long post-ganglionic chain to target

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11
Q

in the sympathetic nervous system,

Ganglia lie close to

A

spinal cord in the sympathetic trunk (paravertebral ganglia), or in collateral (prevertebral ganglia = celiac, mesenteric) ganglia

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12
Q

in sympathetic nervous system what is the difference between grey and white ramus

A 
White ramus
(preganglionic fibre)
   vs
Grey ramus
(postganglionic fibres)

Convergence and divergence lead to “mass activation”

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13
Q

Parasympathetic targets =

A

cranio-sacral. Cranial outflow to head & neck (mainly, look at that vagus go!), sacral to bladder and genitals

Long preganglionic fibre, short postganglionic fibre. Ganglion is in, or close to, target.

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14
Q

sympathetic targets =

A

= thoraco-lumbar.
Ganglia close to spinal cord in sympathetic trunk (aka para-vetebral ganglia). Note this extends further than outflow into these cervical ganglia.

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15
Q

Usually preganglionic fibre enters

A

sympathetic trunk, makes synapse there, and then along postganglionic fibre.
But some go straight through and make synapse in prevertebral(= collateral) ganglia, ie celiac & mesenteric ganglia, then postganglionic fibre carries on.

Odd ones go to adrenal gland and have no postganglionic fibre. They do have cell body there and that releases the transmitter, as a hormone, into to the blood.

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16
Q

Parasympathetic targets =

A

cranio-sacral. Cranial outflow to head & neck (mainly, look at that vagus go!), sacral to bladder and genitals

Long preganglionic fibre, short postganglionic fibre. Ganglion is in, or close to, target.

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17
Q

Autonomic neurotransmitters

A

Acetylcholine

- Acts on cholinergic receptors
         - Nicotinic receptors 
         - Muscarinic receptors

Noradrenaline (& adrenaline)

- Acts on adrenergic receptors
         - alpha receptors
         - beta receptors
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18
Q

what are the big differences in autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system

A

anatomy

neurotransmitters used

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19
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Preganglionic fibres release acetylcholine
- acts on nicotinic cholinergic receptors*

Postganglionic fibres release noradrenaline
- acts on alpha or beta adrenergic receptors

These are different from those at the neuromuscular junction

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20
Q

sympathetic nervous system,

Postganglionic cells of adrenal medulla

A

have no axons, but release adrenaline & noradrenaline (approx 80%/20%) into the blood

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21
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system exits from

A

spinal cord in cranial (3, 7, 9, 10) & sacral (S2-4) regions

Long preganglionic fibre, short postganglionic fibre. Ganglion is in, or close to, target.

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22
Q

In Parasympathetic nervous system, ganglia lie

A

close to, or within, the target

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23
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system neurotransmitters

A

Preganglionic fibres release acetylcholine
- acts on nicotinic cholinergic receptors

Postganglionic fibres release acetylcholine
- acts on muscarinic cholinergic receptors

Some postganglionic fibres release non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) transmitters
eg peptides or Nitric Oxide

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24
Q

Sympathetic cholinergic fibres can also

A

innervate sweat glands

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25
differences in sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
- outflow from CNS - Location of ganglia - transmitters and receptors used
26
Sympathetic main points
- Thoraco-lumbar - Ganglia usually close to spinal cord (except collateral ganglia) - Pre-ganglionic cells release ACh - Acts on nicotinic receptors - Post-ganglionic cells usually release noradrenaline (norepinephrine) - Acts on alpha or beta receptors - Hormonal component (adrenaline (epinephrine) from adrenal medula) - Produces co-ordinated effects - Fight-or-flight response
27
Parasympathetic main points
- Cranio-sacral - Ganglia close to, or within, the target tissue - Pre-ganglionic cells release ACh - Acts on nicotinic receptors - Post-ganglionic cells usually release ACh - Acts on muscarinic receptors - No hormonal component - Produces independent effects - Rest-and-digest response
28
Sympathetic Homer
- airways dilate - heart beats faster and stronger - blood diverts to muscle and gut motility decreases - enzyme secretion in gut generally inhibited - stored energy is released - pupils dilate and eye focus far way - hair stands on end - mouth gets dry
29
Parasympathetic Homer
- airways constrict - heart beats slower and weaker - blood diverts to gut and gut motility increases - enzyme secretion in gut generally stimulated - energy is stored - pupils constrict and eyes focus close up - hair lies flat - mouth starts drooling
30
difference in parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system depends on
the neurotransmitter released and what receptor it acts on. Noradrenaline (and adrenaline) act on alpha and beta receptors. acetylcholine acts on nicotinic and muscarinic receptors
31
when radial muscle contracts
pupils dilate
32
when circular sphincter muscle contracts
pupil constricts
33
when the ciliary muscle relaxes
eye focuses far away
34
when ciliary muscle contracts
eye focuses close up
35
The eye: | Sympathetic system
Activates beta 2 receptors on ciliary muscle round lens - Ciliary muscle relaxes & eye focuses far away Activates alpha 1 receptors on radial muscle of iris - Radial muscle contracts & makes pupil larger
36
The eye: | Parasympathetic system
Activates muscarinic receptors on ciliary muscle - Ciliary muscle contracts & eye focuses close up Activates muscarinic receptors on sphincter muscle - Contracts sphincter muscle & makes pupil smaller
37
The heart: | Sympathetic system
Activates beta 1 receptors on pacemaker cells - Increases heart rate Activates (mainly) beta 1 receptors on myocytes - Increases strength of contraction
38
The heart: | Parasympathetic system
Activates muscarinic receptors on pacemaker cells - Decreases heart rate Little effect on myocytes - Little effect on strength of contraction
39
The lungs: | Sympathetic system
Activates beta 2 receptors on smooth muscle of airways | - Makes smooth muscle relax & dilates airways
40
The lungs: | Parasympathetic system
Activates muscarinic receptors | - Makes smooth muscle contract & constricts airways
41
The lungs: | Therapeutically useful
beta 2 agonist (eg salbutamol) - dilates airways, but does not affect the heart beta 1 antagonist (eg atenolol) - decreases heart rate, but does not affect airways
42
Blood vessels: | Sympathetic system
Activates alpha 1 receptors on smooth muscle of vessels - Makes smooth muscle contract & blood flow decreases Activates beta 2 receptors on smooth muscle of vessels - Makes smooth muscle relax & blood flow increases
43
Blood vessels: | Parasympathetic system
usually no effect
44
The gut: | Sympathetic system
Activates alpha or beta receptors on smooth muscle of gut - Decreases gut motility Activates alpha receptors in pancreas - Inhibits secretion of enzymes
45
The gut: | Parasympathetic system
Activates muscarinic receptors on smooth muscle of gut - Increases gut motility Activates muscarinic receptors in pancreas - Increases secretion
46
Energy stores: | Sympathetic system
Activates alpha or beta receptors on liver cells (hepatocytes) - Stimulates glycogenolyis & gluconeogenesis Activates alpha or beta receptors on fat cells (lipocytes) - Increases lipolysis
47
Energy stores: | Parasympathetic system
no effect
48
Salivary glands: | Sympathetic system
Activates beta receptors | - Stimulates thick secretion rich in enzymes
49
Salivary glands: | Parasympathetic system
Activates muscarinic receptors | - Stimulates profuse watery secretion
50
An example of antagonistic actions
the eye and its relationship with parasympathetic and sympathetic system
51
An example of dual innervation with non-antagonistic actions
Salivary glands and its relationship with parasympathetic and sympathetic system
52
Example of single innervation
Energy stores and its relationship with sympathetic system
53
An example of dual innervation with non-antagonistic actions
Salivary glands and its relationship with parasympathetic and sympathetic system
54
The bladder: | Sympathetic system
Activates beta 2 receps on smooth muscle of bladder wall - Relaxes smooth muscle and reduces pressure Activates alpha 1 receptors on smooth muscle of sphincter - Contracts smooth muscle and stops urination
55
The bladder: | Parasympathetic system
Activates muscarinic receptors on bladder wall - Contracts smooth muscle and increases pressure Activates muscarinic receptors on sphincter - Relaxes smooth muscle and causes urination
56
The bladder: | Parasympathetic system
Activates muscarinic receptors on bladder wall - Contracts smooth muscle and increases pressure Activates muscarinic receptors on sphincter - Relaxes smooth muscle and causes urination
57
Reproductive tract: | Sympathetic system
Activates alpha 1 receptors on smooth muscle of urethra | - Contracts smooth muscle and causes ejaculation
58
Reproductive tract: | Parasympathetic system
Activates muscarinic receptors on smooth muscle of corpus cavernosum - Relaxes smooth muscle & causes erection
59
An example dual innervation with complementary effects
Reproductive tract and its relationship with parasympathetic and sympathetic system
60
What controls this autonomic nervous system
Autonomic reflexes - eg baroreceptor reflex - baroreceptors detect blood pressure ``` Plus central control - from the hypothalamus - co-ordinates autonomic, somatic and endocrine activity, - eg defence response ```
61
Complications in autonomic nervous system
Some neurones release non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) transmitters - eg nitric oxide (NO), ATP, VIP Neurones may co-release transmitters - eg ACh plus a peptide Some autonomic neurones are odd - eg sympathetic post-ganglionic fibres innervating sweat glands release ACh
62
dual innervation effects may be
antagonistic or complimentary. | many tissues have this
63
single intnervation is controlled by
varying tone. | some tissues have this
64
sympathetic is always
noradrenaline or adrenaline acting on alpha or beta receptors
65
parasympathetic is always
acetylcholine acting on muscarinic receptors

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