Autonomics 4

Question 1

Horner’s Syndrome

Answer 1

interruption of sympathetic pathways to the face; could be a lesion on 1) neurons from brain to thoracic spinal cord, 2) sympthetic preganglionic neurons, or 3) sympathetic postganglionic neurons for eyes or blood vessels

Question 2

anhidrosis

Answer 2

loss of sweating (due to decreased glandular secretions)

Question 3

miosis

Answer 3

smaller pupil

Question 4

ptosis

Answer 4

upper lip drooping

Question 5

enopthalmos

Answer 5

sunken eye

Question 6

How does Horner’s Syndrome cause pupil constriction?

Answer 6

lesion blocks sympathetic pathway to AR a1 which would nomally dilate the pupil

Question 7

Urinary incontinence is mainly caused by what pathway?

Answer 7

hyperactivation of parasympathetic signals

Question 8

The external sphincter of the bladder is controlled by what nervous system?

Answer 8

somatic - it has striated muscle and is under voluntary control (specifically the pudendal nerve)

Question 9

How do sympathetic nerves control the bladder from spontaneously emptying?

Answer 9

relaxation of detrusor (b3) and constriction of internal sphincter (a1)

Question 10

What system controls filling of the bladder?

Answer 10

sympathetic

Question 11

What system controls emptying of the bladder?

Answer 11

parasympathetic

Question 12

Pheochromocytoma

Answer 12

rare endocrine tumor from the adrenal glands that produces and releases excess epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 13

Pheochomocytoma affects what nervous system?

Answer 13

sympathetic (that’s what innervates adrenals)

Question 14

Common species with pheochromosytomas

Answer 14

dogs and cattle

Question 15

Symptoms of Pheochromcytoma

Answer 15

racing heartbeat, sweating, high blood pressure (think sympathetic things)

Question 16

Dysautonomia

Answer 16

neuro degeneration of both sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system

known as grass sickness in horses, also happens in dogs and cats

Question 17

Cause of Dysautonomia

Answer 17

no one really knows but speculated to be toxins or infection (botulism?)

Question 18

Symptoms of Dysautonomia

Answer 18

loss of crucial bodily functions like swallowing, breathing, heartbeat, GI motility, etc.

Question 19

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy

Answer 19

occurs in ~20% of diabetes patients

Question 20

Parkinson’s disease

Answer 20

70-80% of those with Parkinson’s have ANS dysfunction (like dysautonomia in humans)

Question 21

Multiple system atrophy

Answer 21

fatal neurodegenerative disorder with autonomic failure and mmotor impairment

Question 22

Autonomic dysreflexia

Answer 22

cardiovascular disorder in patients with spinal cord injury