(Cervical) Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

What way does information flow if it is described as afferent?

Answer 1

from the periphery to the CNS
(afferent fibres carry sensory information from sensory organs & skin/muscles/viscera/joints to the CNS

Question 2

What way does information flow if it is described as efferent?

Answer 2

from the CNS to the periphery
(efferent fibres carry motor information, which travels from CNS to glands, smooth & skeletal muscle)

Question 3

what does the somatic nervous system control?

Answer 3

Voluntary movement

Question 4

What is the central nervous system dived into?

Answer 4

the brain & spinal cord

Question 5

What is the peripheral nervous system divided into?

Answer 5

• motor neurons
• sensory neurons

Question 6

What system divisions do efferent motor neurons supply?

Answer 6

• somatic nervous system
• autonomic nervous system

Question 7

What are the divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 7

• sympathetic division
• parasympathetic division

Question 8

when is there an increase in sympathetic activity?

Answer 8

during times of stress, fear & anxiety

Question 9

when is there an increase in parasympathetic activity?

Answer 9

when sedentary

Question 10

What is the overall function of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 10

The ANS controls involuntary physiological processes

Question 11

How is cardiac function affected when the ANS is activated?

Answer 11

the ANS decreases cardiac output & blood pressure

Question 12

How is the GI tract affected when the ANS is activated?

Answer 12

• speeds up peristalsis
• increases salivation

Question 13

how can the neurons of the ANS be described?

Answer 13

EFFERENT
- consist of 2 neurons which synapse in a ganglion

Question 14

what is a ganglion?

Answer 14

term for a collection of nerve cell bodies in PNS

Question 15

what are the two neurotransmitters used for communication in the ANS?

Answer 15

• Acetylcholine
• Noradrenaline

Question 16

what are neurons that release acetylcholine known as?

Answer 16

cholinergic fibres

Question 17

what are neurons that release noradrenaline known as?

Answer 17

adrenergic fibres

Question 18

describe the travel path that parasympathetic neurons in the sympathetic chain take?

Answer 18

—> leave the spinal cord through the ventral root
—> form part of a spinal nerve
—> enter the ganglia of the sympathetic chain via the white ramus communicans

Question 19

Where will sympathetic preganglionic fibres destined for the head and neck be located?

Answer 19

—> ascend in the sympathetic trunk
—> synapse in the superior cervical ganglion
—> the post-ganglionic fibres will travel into the head region along the surface of the internal carotid artery & carotid plexus

Question 20

what ganglion of the sympathetic trunk supplies branches via the internal carotid artery & external carotid artery?

Answer 20

the superior cervical ganglion

Question 21

what are the symptoms of Horner’s syndrome?

Answer 21

• constriction of pupil (miosis)
• drooping of superior eyelid (ptosis)
• vasodilation & absence of sweating on face/neck