Lecture 19: Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Answer 1

Visceral motor system, not sensory,
Operates without conscious instruction,
Coordinates system functions (cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive)

Question 2

Visceral Motor System (4)

Answer 2

Smooth muscle,
Cardiac muscle,
Glandular Tissue,
Adipose Tissue

Question 3

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

Answer 3

Motor,
Operates under conscious control,
Seldom affects long-term survival,
Controls skeletal muscles

Question 4

What Is The Primary Control Center Of ANS?

Answer 4

Hypothalamus

Question 5

2 Divisions Of ANS

Answer 5

Sympathetic,

Parasympathetic

Question 6

Sympathetic Division Of ANS

Answer 6

Throacolumbar division,

Responsible for fight or flight response

Question 7

What Happens During Fight Or Flight Response Of Sympathetic Division? (8)

Answer 7

Heightened mental alertness,
Increased metabolic rate, 
Reduced digestive and urinary functions,
Energy reserves activated,
Dilation of blood vessels to skeletal muscles,
Increased respiratory rate and respiratory passageways dilate,
Increased heart rate and blood pressure,
Sweat glands activated

Question 8

Parasympathetic Division Of ANS

Answer 8

Craniosacral Division,

Responsible for rest and digest response

Question 9

What Happens During Rest And Digest Response Of Parasympathetic Division? (5)

Answer 9

Opposite of Sympathetic Division,
Conserves energy and promotes sedentary activities,
Decreased metabolic rate, heart rate, and blood pressure,
Increased salivary and digestive glands secretion,
Increased motility and blood flow in digestive tract,
Urination and defecation stimulation

Question 10

2 Neuron Autonomic Pathways

Answer 10

Preganglionic Neuron,

Postganglionic Neuron

Question 11

Preganlionic Neuron

Answer 11

From brainstem or spinal cord to ganglia

Question 12

Postganlionic Neuron

Answer 12

From ganglia to peripheral effector tissue

Question 13

Where Is Sympathetic Division Of ANS?

Answer 13

T1-L2

Question 14

What Does The Preganglionic Neuron Of Sympathetic Division Do?

Answer 14

Goes out ventral root to spinal nerve and through white ramus to sympathetic ganglion,
May synapse in sympathetic ganglion or may pass through into sympathetic nerve to a collateral ganglion or to the adrenal glands to synapse

Question 15

What Does The Postganglionic Neuron Of Sympathetic Division Do?

Answer 15

Either pass through gray rams and spinal nerve or pass into sympathetic nerve (goes into body cavities for visceral organs)

Question 16

3 Locations For Synapsing In Sympathetic Division

Answer 16

Sympathetic Ganglia,
Collateral Ganglia,
Suprarenal Medullae

Question 17

Sympathetic Ganglia

Answer 17

Innervates visceral organs in thoracic cavity via sympathetic nerves,
Innervates visceral effectors via spinal nerves

Question 18

Collateral Ganglia

Answer 18

Innervates visceral organs in abdominopelvic cavity

Question 19

Suprarenal Medullae

Answer 19

Secretes neurotransmitters into general circulation

Question 20

Sympathetic Ganglion

Answer 20

T1-L2,
Connected to form a ‘chain’ on either side of spinal cord,
‘Send’ to a specific part of the body

Question 21

Where Is Preganglionic Neuron Of Parasympathetic Division?

Answer 21

Cranial nerve nuclei in brainstem or from sacral region of spinal cord,
Travels with cranial nerve or pelvic nerve to ganglia that are next to or within effector tissue

Question 22

Where Is Postganglionic Neuron Of Parasympathetic Neuron?

Answer 22

Travels very short distance to innervate effector tissue

Question 23

Dual Innervation

Answer 23

Most vital organs receive input from both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the ANS,
Usually these two systems have opposing effects (they release different neurotransmitters and/or have different receptors at their synapses