Cervical Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards
what does the somatic nervous system control
voluntary movement
what does the autonomic nervous system control
viscera of body (involuntary response)
what does the sympathetic nervous system innervate
periphery
what does the parasympathetic nervous system innervate
core of body
when is there an increase in sympathetic activity
in times of stress, fear and anxiety
when is there an increase in parasympathetic activity
when sedentary
what is the function of the autonomic nervous system
control involuntary physiological processes
what do autonomic pathways consist of
2 neurons which synapse in a ganglion
what is the myelination of pre and post ganglionic neurons in the ANS
preganglionic are myelinated and postganglionic are non-myelinated
which nervous system has a longer preganglionic neuron
parasympathetic
what are the 2 neurotransmitters used for communication in ANS
acetylcholine and noradrenaline
what are neurons that release acetylcholine called?
cholinergic fibres
what are neurons which release noradrenaline called
adrenergic fibres
where are the preganglionic neurons located in the parasympathetic nervous system
craniosacral - cranial segments (III, VII, IX, X), spinal segments (S2-S4) - closer to target organ
where are the preganglionic neurons located in the sympathetic nervous system
thoracolumbar (T1-L2)
what forms the sympathetic chain
paravertebral ganglia
where is the sympathetic chain
extends from the base of the skull to the coccyx where the left and right chains join at ganglion impar
what forms the stellate ganglion
C7 and T1 fusion
where do the preganglionic sympathetic neurons leave the spinal cord
through the ventral root
where do the preganglionic sympathetic neurons enter the ganglia of the sympathetic chain
via the white ramus communicans
what are the 3 options of what preganglionic sympathetic neurons can do once entering sympathetic chain
1 - synapse in the ganglia at SAME LEVEL
2 - travel up/down chain to synapse at DIFFERENT LEVEL
3 - exit ganglia via SPLANCHNIC NERVE
where does the neurons of the sympathetic nervous system begin
in the thoracolumbar region
where do the preganglionic neurons on the sympathetic nervous system synapse
the cervical ganglia
what are the cervical ganglia
superior, middle and inferior
where is the superior cervical ganglion
C1/C2 near mastoid process
where is the middle cervical ganglion
C6
where is the inferior cervical ganglion
C7
where is the stellate/cervicothoracic ganglion
near the superior thoracic aperture (anterior to the transverse process of C7 vertebra) C7&T1
where does the middle cervical ganglion lie
anterior aspect of inferior thyroid artery and at level of cricoid cartilage and transverse process of C6
which ganglion is good for spotting the sympathetic trunk
superior ganglion
how do the post-ganglionic axons from the superior cervical ganglion reach their target organs in the head?
by forming a plexus around the common carotid artery and its branches
what are the branches off of the superior cervical ganglion
ICA and ECA, cervical spinal nerves (C1-C4), pharynx, superior cardiac nerves
what are the branches off of the middle cervical ganglion
cervical spinal nerve (C5,C6), middle cardiac nerves
what are the branches off of the inferior cervical ganglion
vertebral artery, cervical spinal nerves (C7-T1; C7 and C8 to brachial plexus), inferior cardiac nerves
what does the cervical ganglia innervate
eyes, eyelids, lacrimal glands, carotid body, salivary glands, sweat glands
what is Horners syndrome
damage to cervical sympathetic trunk resulting in absence of sympathetically stimulated functions on ipsilateral side of head
what are the signs of Horners syndrome
constriction of pupil (miosis), drooping of superior eyelid (ptosis), vasodilation and absence of sweating on face/neck
which ganglia are prevertebral ganglia and lie ventral to the aorta
celiac, superior mesenteric, inferior mesenteric
what is the adrenal medulla supplied by
sympathetic pre-ganglionic neurons
what do the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the adrenal medulla synapse with
chromaffin cells
what do the chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla release
adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream
where do the preganglionic neurons of CNIII travel to and which nucleus does it come from?
from edinger-westphal nucleus in brainsteam to ciliary ganglion
where do the postganglionic neurons of the CNIII travel to
innervate ciliary muscle and sphincter pupillae
where does CNVII travel to and which nucleus and ganglia does it come from
superior salvatory nucleus in brainstem - pterygopalatine and submandibular ganglia - lacrimal gland, nasal mucosa, submandibular gland
where does the CNIX travel to and which nucleus and ganglion does it come from
inferior salvatory nucleus to otic ganglion to parotid gland
what are the nerves of the cranial parasympathetic system
CNIII, CNVII, CNIX
where is the ciliary ganglion
between the optic nerve and the lateral rectus muscle
where is the pterygopalatine ganglion
within the pterygopalatine fossa
where is the submandibular ganglion
suspended from the lingual nerve, close to submandibular gland
where is the otic ganglion
directly below foramen ovale in the infratemporal fossa, medial to third branch of trigeminal nerve, posterior to medial pterygoid muscle
where does the vagus nerve (CNX) supply parasympathetic supply to
thorax and abdomen
where do the presynaptic neurons of the vagus nerve travel in its parasympathetic nervous pathway
from dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve and nucleus ambiguous to postganglionic fibres near/within target organ
