Introduction into the Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

What is the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 1

the peripheral complex of nerves that control involuntary functions in the body

Question 2

What are some things that the autonomic nervous system governs?

Answer 2

secretory glands, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and internal organs

Question 3

What are the similarities between the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 3

They both::

• Get signals from the periphery
• Get signals from higher brain levels
• Have integrative neurons in the CNS

Question 4

In the somatic nervous system, efferents do what?

Answer 4

They go directly to the effector: neuron leaves the CNS and goes straight to the skeletal muscle that innervates it

Question 5

In the autonomic nervous system, efferents do what?

Answer 5

They go to peripheral ganglia to synapse with other neurons that will go to the effector

Question 6

What is a good way to remember when the sympathetic nervous system responds?

Answer 6

fight-or-flight

Question 7

What is a good way to remember when the parasympathetic nervous system responds?

Answer 7

rest and digest

Question 8

What is a synapse?

Answer 8

any connection via neurons or efferents where two cells are communicating

Question 9

What is a ganglia?

Answer 9

a collection of synpases

Question 10

Where do pre-ganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system originate from?

Answer 10

cell bodies in the thoracic or lumbar regions of the spinal cord

Question 11

What do the sympathetic pre-ganglionic fibers enter?

Answer 11

the paravertebral chain of sympathetic ganglia

Question 12

Where is the paravertebral chain of sympathetic ganglia?

Answer 12

it is a chain of ganglia that run along the vertebral column and runs along the spinal cord

Question 13

What is the size of the pre-ganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system as compared to the post-ganglionic fibers?

Answer 13

the pre-ganglionic fibers are short, the post-ganglionic fibers are long

Question 14

True or False: The sympathetic post-ganglionic fibers have singular innervation.

Answer 14

False: they often have multiple innervation

Question 15

How does the sympathetic nervous system effect the heart?

Answer 15

General excitation: increased heart rate, contractile force, and conduction velocity

Question 16

How does the sympathetic nervous system effect the GI system?

Answer 16

General inhibition:

Decreased digestion, motility, and secretion

Question 17

Where do pre-ganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous system originate from?

Answer 17

cell bodies in the midbrain, medulla, oblongata, or sacral region of the spinal cord

Question 18

What do pre-ganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous system enter?

Answer 18

ganglia close to (or within) innervated structures

Question 19

What is the size of the pre-ganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous system as compared to the post-ganglionic fibers?

Answer 19

the pre-ganglionic fibers are long, the post-ganglionic fibers are short

Question 20

How does the parasympathetic nervous system effect the heart?

Answer 20

General inhibition: decreased heart rate, contractile force, and conduction velocity

Question 21

How does the parasympathetic nervous system effect the GI system?

Answer 21

General excitation: increased digestion, motility, and secretion

Question 22

What do the alpha 1 receptors of the sympathetic nervous system do in the blood vessels?

Answer 22

constriction

Question 23

What do the beta 2 receptors of the sympathetic nervous system do in the blood vessels?

Answer 23

dilation

Question 24

What does the parasympathetic system do in the blood vessels?

Answer 24

dilation, but constriction of the peripheral vasculature and other organs

Question 25

Does skeletal muscle have more alpha 1 or beta 2 receptors?

Answer 25

beta 2

Question 26

What does the sympathetic nervous system do the the bronchiolar smooth muscle?

Answer 26

relaxation via beta 2 receptors

Question 27

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do to the bronchiolar smooth muscle?

Answer 27

contraction

Question 28

Preganglionic fibers of teh sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system are ______.

Answer 28

cholinergic

Question 29

What is the general path of parasympathetic outflow?

Answer 29

Cholinergic preganglionic axon releases Ach onto a ganglion, then the cholinergic postganglionic axon releases Ach onto the effector cell

Question 30

What is the general path of sympathetic outflow?

Answer 30

Cholineric preganglionici axon releases Ach onto the ganglion, then the adrenergic postganglionic axon releases epinephrine or norepinephrine onto the effector cell

Question 31

What is the name (type) of the Ach receptor at the ganglion?

Answer 31

nicotinic receptor

Question 32

What is the name (type) of the Ach receptor at the neuroeffector junction?

Answer 32

muscarinic receptor

Question 33

What does fight-or-flight cause in the muscle?

Answer 33

breakdown of glycogen to produce glucose

Question 34

What does fight-or-flight cause in the liver?

Answer 34

glycogenolysis (and gluconeogenesis)

Question 35

What does fight or flight cause in the heart?

Answer 35

increase in heart rate and stroke volume increase

Question 36

What does fight-or-flight cause in the lungs?

Answer 36

increase of respiratory rate, relaxation of bronchioles

Question 37

What does fight-or-flight cause in the vasculature?

Answer 37

vasoconstriction in skin and viscera

Question 38

What does fight-or-flight cause in the pupils?

Answer 38

dilation

Question 39

What does fight-or-flight cause in the body hair?

Answer 39

erection

Question 40

What does fight-or-flight cause in the sweat glands?

Answer 40

sweating

Question 41

What are some catecholamines?

Answer 41

epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 42

What is the precursor to norepinephrine?

Answer 42

dopamine

Question 43

What is the importance of acetylcholinesterase?

Answer 43

it is important to metabolize Ach