Lecture 16: Autonomic Nervous System 1

Question 1

Which systems does the brain utilise in response to sensory input?

Answer 1

somatic motor control, the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system

Question 2

What do most organs receive input from?

Answer 2

the autonomic nervous system

Question 3

What are the short term functions of the ANS?

Answer 3

constant fluid composition, gas exchange, ingestion and digestion of nutrients, excretion of wastes, thermoregulation, reproductive behaviour

Question 4

What are the long term functions of the ANS?

Answer 4

recovery of the body
development and maintenance of organs
protection (inflammation, immunity)

Question 5

What does the autonomic nervous system contribute to?

Answer 5

the maintenance of visceral organ function

Question 6

Where are preganglionic neurons for the sympathetic division located?

Answer 6

in the thoracic and lumbar divisions of the spinal cord

Question 7

Where are preganglionic neurons for the parasympathetic division located?

Answer 7

in the brainstem and the sacral division of the spinal cord

Question 8

Where are ganglia in the sympathetic nervous system located?

Answer 8

in the sympathetic chain and the prevertebral ganglia

Question 9

Where are sympathetic preganglionic neurons situated in the spinal cord?

Answer 9

midway between the somatic motor neurons and the sensory area -> intermediolateral cell column

Question 10

What does the adrenal gland control?

Answer 10

secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline into circulation instead of sending axonal projections

Question 11

What neurons is the adrenal medulla similar to?

Answer 11

postganglionic neurons

Question 12

Where are parasympathetic postganglionic neurons mostly located? How long are the axons of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons?

Answer 12

in the target tissue

the axons of the parasympathetic preganglionic neurons are long

Question 13

Where are sympathetic postganglionic neurons mostly located? How long are the axons of sympathetic preganglionic neurons?

Answer 13

closer to the spinal cord

the axons of the sympathetic preganglionic neurons are short

Question 14

What are the targets of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 14

smooth muscle, some glands, heart, adipose tissue, liver, pineal gland, lymph, modulates enteric nervous system

Question 15

What are the targets of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 15

some glands, smooth muscle, heart, pelvic organs, epithelia / mucosa

Question 16

What are the major functions of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 16

blood vessel constriction, increased heart rate, relax airways, inhibit digestion, stimulate glucose production, stimulate adrenaline secretion, stimulate salivation / sweating

Question 17

What are the major functions of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 17

decrease heart rate, constrict airways, stimulate digestion, stimulate salivation

Question 18

What does stimulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation produce?

Answer 18

sometimes produces reciprocal effects

Question 19

What does the autonomic nervous system consist of?

Answer 19

two neurons connected in series and the neuron innervating the target occurs outside the CNS

Question 20

What do postganglionic neurons employ as their neurotransmitter?

Answer 20

different transmitters

Question 21

What do preganglionic neurons employ as their neurotransmitter?

Answer 21

acetylcholine