INTRO TO VISCERAL SYSTEMS Flashcards
What is the autonomic nervous system responsible for?
involuntary control of visceral organs and body tissues
what is the autonomic nervous system divided into?
Parasympathetic NS
Sympathetic NS
what NS is responsible for rest and digestion?
Parasympathetic
which nervous system contains short preganglionic neurons and long post ganglionic neurons?
sympathetic NS
which nervous system contains long preganglionic neurons and short post ganglionic neurons?
parasympathetic NS
what NS is responsible for fight or flight?
sympathetic NS
in what NS is the heart rate generally increased?
sympathetic NS
what is the innervation of the parasympathetic NS?
cranial nerves (3,7.9,10) & S2-S4
what is the innervation of the sympathetic NS?
T1-L2
what is the sympathetic chain composed of?
paravertebral ganglia
what nervous system secretes norepinephrine at target organ?
sympathetic NS
what are visceral afferents?
sensory inputs that come from organs
what are visceral efferents?
motor outputs sent to organs
what does the information in the sympathetic NS travel through?
through the sympathetic chain
what are the characteristics of preganglionic neurons?
- myelinated
- begin in the CNS
what are the characteristics of postganglionic neurons?
- unmyelinated
- synapses with neurons from CNS
in what spinal segment is the lateral horn found in?
- in the thoracic region
where does the sympathetic chain run along?
it runs along each side of the vertebral column
what does the white ramus communicans allow passage of?
of the preganglionic neurons
what is the white/grey ramus communicans?
a nervous structure that allows communication between spinal nerves and sympathetic ganglia
what does the grey ramus communicans allow passage of?
of postganglionic neurons
what are the 4 different travel methods for sympathetic information pathways?
1) pregnaglionic neurons enter the sympathetic chain via white ramus communicans and synapse at the same level with postganglionic neurons which exit at the same level
2) pregnaglionic neurons enter the sympathetic chain via white ramus communicans and synapse at a ganglion higher or lower and postganglionic neuron exits through grey communicans at corresponding spinal level
3) preganglionic neurons synpases via the splanchnic nerve where they then synpase with postganglionic neurons
4) preganglionic neurons don’t synapse and travel directly to target organ
