chapter 6: autonomic nervous system

Question 1

what is the difference between the autonomic and somatic nervous systems?

Answer 1

autonomic: involuntary movement (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system)

somatic: voluntary movement

Question 2

what is the difference between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 2

sympathetic:
-“fight or flight”
-increases HR, force of heart contractions, dilates bronchioles/pupils

parasympathetic:
-decrease HR, stimulates digestive organs

Question 3

describe the nerve pathway for the sympathetic nervous system.

Answer 3

1. pre-ganglionic nerves (in brain) emerge from thoracic and lumbar regions of spine
2. pre-ganglionic nerves synapse with post-ganglionic nerves
3. as a result of action potential, Ach released from pre-ganglionic nerve and binds to nicotinic receptors on post-ganglionic nerve
4. post-ganglionic nerve releases NE
5. NE binds to adrenergic receptors on target tissue to initiate response

Question 4

describe the nerve pathway for the parasympathetic nervous system.

Answer 4

1. pre-ganglionic nerves (in brain) emerge from sacral region of the spine
2. pre-ganglionic synapses with post-ganglionic on target tissue
3. pre-ganglionic nerve releases Ach that binds to nicotinic receptors on post-ganglionic nerves
4. activation of the post-ganglionic nerves generates action potential that releases Ach
5. Ach binds to muscarinic receptors on target tissue