Chapter 8: Overview of the Autonomic Nervous system Flashcards
System that is made up of visceral motor nerve fibres that conduct impulses from the CNS to smooth muscles, cardiac muscles and glandular epithelial tissue.
Autonomic Nervous System
Motor neurons establish a two-neuron pathway:
- First impulse (of two neuron pathway)
- Second impulse (of two-neuron pathway )
__________ - Impulses cross synapses to postganglionic neurons which then conduct the impulse from ganglia to visceral effectors.
Second impulse
__________ - Impulses travel over preganglionic neurons from the spinal cord or brainstem to autonomic ganglia.
First impulse
What is the Motor neurons that make up the Autonomic Nervous System?
Autonomic neurons
______________ - The dendrites and cell bodies of these neurons are located in gray matter of the spinal cord and brainstem. Their axons extend into peripheral „junction boxes‟ called ______ .
Preganglionic neurons
ganglia
Where is Preganglionic neurons conduct impulses?
between the spinal cord and ganglion.
_______________ - Neurons that conduct impulses from a ganglion to cardiac and smooth muscle or glandular tissue.
Postganglionic neurons
What are the two divisions of Autonomic Nervous System?
1) Sympathetic Nervous System (fight and flight)
2) Parasympathetic Nervous System (digest and rest)
This division is often referred to as the ”fight or flight system.” Its activity is evident when we are excited or find ourselves in an emergency or threatening situations.
Sympathetic Nervous System
What are the functions of Sympathetic Nervous System?
- Make us ready for strenuous muscular work or prepare us for “fight or flight”.
- Sympathetic fibres take control of many internal organs. When we exercise strenuously, sympathetic fibres take control.
________ - response of the body is somewhat like an airplane readying for take-off. Virtually all systems are modified to meet any perceived danger.
Stress
Stress that include adverse physical conditions (such as pain or hot or cold temperatures) or stressful psychological environments (such as poor working conditions or abusive relationships).
External stressors
Stress that can also be physical (infections, inflammation) or psychological. ( intense worry about a harmful event that may or may not occur).
Internal stressors
Stressors that defined as short-term is called:
Acute Stress
Stressors that defined as long-term is called:
Chronic Stress
It is the reaction to an immediate threat, commonly known as the fight or flight response.
Acute Stress
It can be any situation that is experienced, even subconsciously or falsely, as a danger.
Threat
What are the examples of Common acute stressors?
- noise
- crowding
- isolation
- hunger
- danger
- infection and imagining a threat or remembering a dangerous event.
Under most circumstances, once the acute threat has passed, the response becomes inactivated and levels of stress hormones return to normal, a condition called :
relaxation response
___________ - Frequently, however, modern life poses on-going stressful situations that are not short-lived and the urge to act (to fight or to flee) must be suppressed. Stress, then, becomes chronic.
Chronic Stress
List are Common chronic stressors. Except:
a. on-going highly pressured work
b. long-term relationship problems
c. hunger
d. loneliness and persistent financial worries.
Except: C.
Hunger is included in Common Acute Stressor.
What is the effect of acute Stress?
The best way to envision the effect of acute stress, is to imagine being in a primitive situation, such as a bear chasing you.
The Brain’s Response to Acute Stress:
In response to seeing the bear, a part of the brain called the _________________ is activated.
hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal (HPA) system
The HPA systems trigger the production and release of steroid hormones ( __________ ) including the primary stress hormone _________ .
glucocorticoids cortisol
Release of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) called _________ particularly those known as ________ , ________ and ________ (also called adrenaline).
catecholamines
dopamine
norepinephrine
epinephrine
A nearby area in the brain that stores the emotionally loaded experience in long-term memory.
hippocampus
True or False.
During a stressful event, areas at the front of the brain concerned with short-term memory, concentration, inhibition and rational thought are suppressed. This sequence of mental events, allows a person to react quickly.
True
Response of the Heart, Lungs and Circulation to Acute Stress. Except:
a. the heart rate and blood pressure increase instantaneously.
b. Breathing becomes slow and the lungs take in more oxygen.
c. Blood flow may actually increase 300% to 400% priming the muscles, lungs and brain for added demands.
d. The spleen discharges red and white blood cells, allowing the blood to transport more oxygen.
Except: b
Correct: Breathing becomes rapid and the lungs take in more oxygen.
Response of the immune system to acute stress. True or False:
- The steroid hormones dampen parts of the immune system, so that infection fighters (including important white blood cells) or other immune molecules can be redistributed.
- These immune-boosting troops are sent to the body’s front lines where injury or infection is most likely, such as the skin, the bone marrow and the lymph nodes.
True
What are the Acute Response in stress of the Mouth and Throat?
fluids are diverted from non-essential locations, including the mouth. This causes dryness and difficulty in talking. In addition, stress can cause spasms of the throat muscles, making it difficult to swallow.
The stress effect diverts blood flow away from the skin, to support the heart and muscle tissues. The physical effect is a cool, clammy, sweaty skin. The scalp also tightens, so that the hair seems to stand up.
The Skin’s Response to Acute Stress
Stress shuts down digestive activity, a nonessential body function during short-term periods of physical exertion or crisis.
Metabolic Response to Acute Stress
Once the threat has passed and the effect has not been harmful, the stress hormones return to normal. This is known as ____________ . In turn, the systems of the body also normalize.
the relaxation response
List of the physical and psychological conditions that may results from Stress. Give 5 more conditions.
Psychological Effects ( depression )
Stroke Susceptibility to Infections
Cancer
Eating Problems
Diabetes
Pain
Memory, Concentration and Learning Distrurbances
- Gastrointestinal Problems
- Sleep Disturbances
- Heart Disease
- Sexual and Reproductive Dysfunction
- Immune Disorders
_______________ - is most active in non-stressful situations. This division is sometimes called the „digest and rest‟ system and and is chiefly concerned with keeping our body energy as low as possible, even as it directs vital activities such as digestion and elimination.
The parasympathetic division
Function of the parasympathetic division:
Dominates control of many visceral effectors under normal everyday conditions.
What are example of Gastrointestinal Problems associated with stress?
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Give example of Eating Problems associated with stress.
- Weight Gain
- Weight Loss
- Eating Disorders ( Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa )
Give example of Sexual and Reproductive Dysfunction associated with stress.
- Sexual Function ( diminished sexual desire )
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Fertility Effects on Pregnancy ( Maternal stress )
What are the other Disorders associated with stress?
- Allergies Skin Disorders
- Unexplained Hair Loss (Alopecia Areata)
- Teeth and Gums Disease
