Lecture 2: Autonomic nerves (part 2 of 2) Flashcards
postganglionic fiber
an unmyelinated nerve fiber of ANS with cell body in autonomic gangion in PNS
preganglionic fiber
an unmyelinated fiber of ANS with its cell body in the CNS and its axon and termination in a peripheral autonomic gangion
3 types of ganglia
paravertebral (vertebral, chain), prevertebral (collateral, intermediate), and terminal ganglia
where are paravertebral ganglia located? Are they sympathetic, parasym, or both?
alongside vertebral column within the sympathetic trunk. Sympathetic only
Where are prevertebral ganglia located and what is their classification?
between the sympathetic trunk and the effector organ. Both sym. and parasym.
Where are terminal ganglia located and what is their classification?
intrinsic neural plexuses of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital tracts. Bothe sym. and parasym. (mostly parasym.)
Where are parasympathetic preganglionic cell bodies located?
in the brain stem and sacral regions of the spinal cord (the craniosacral region of the ANS)
Where are sympathetic preganglionic cell bodies located?
thoracic and upper lumbar spinal cord. (The thoracolumbar division of the ANS)
Where are parasympathetic postganglionic cell bodies located?
terminal and prevertebral ganglia
Where are the sympathetic postganglionic cell bodies located?
paravertebral (chain) and prevertebral ganglia
What groups of structures are innervated by parasympathetic postganglionic fibers?
cardiac muscle, glands and smooth m. of eye, digestive, respiratory and urogenital systems
What groups of structures are NOT innervated by the parasym. postganglionic fibers?
sweat glands, smooth mm of skin, blood vessels of head, body wall and extremities
What structures are innervated by sympathetic postganglionic fibers?
cardiac muscle, all glands, all smooth m. of the body
explain the sympathetic nerve supply to the head and C1 and C2 regions
- preganglionic fibers pass through the cervicothoracic ganglion and travel cranially in the vagosympathetic trunk in the neck to eventually synapse with their postganglionic fibers in the cranial cervical ganglion.
- postganglion fibers going to the C1 and C2 body region travel to the main trunk of C1 and C2 via the communicating branch.
- postganglinoic fibers destined for the head travel along a plexus surrounding the inernal carotid artery and are distributed distally along branches of most cranial nerves and smaller blood vessels.
what is the significance of the arrangement of
the sympathetic supply to the head and C1-C2 region?
serious damage to the vagosympathetic trunk in the cervical region will eliminate the preganglionic supply to the cranial cervical ganglion and the entire sympathetic supply to the head will be essentially removed. this condition is called Horner’s syndrome. It’s often a condition that results from avulsion of the roots of the spinal nerves contributing to the brachial plexus.
what are the 5 classical signs of Horner’s syndrome?
- constriction of the pupil on the inured side (parasympathetics take over)
- nicitating membrane protrudes over the eye (prolapse) - paralysis of smooth muscle retracting it
- partial ptosis (drooping) of upper eye lid
- enophthalmia - recession of the eyeball within the orbit
- will show excessive sweating in the affected area (C1 and C2 and rest of the head on the affected side)
what is unusual about the symptom of excessive sweating in horses with horner’s syndrome?
in all species, the sympathetics supply the sweat glands.
humans and many animals that have horner’s experience anihidrosis - lack of sweating - on the affected side. this is because the neurotransmitter at the end of the postganglionic fiber is acetylcholine (muscarinic).
in horses however, the neurotransmitter is norepinephrine - an adrenergic sympathetic junction. so instead of experiencing anihidrosis, horses show EXCESSIVE sweating in the affected area.
why do horses experience excessive sweating with horner’s?
because denervated structures are supersensitive to small doses of the neurotransmitter and respond to the circulating epinephrine released from the adrenal gland during stress.
the excessive sweating response is caused by denervation supersensitivity - a phenomenon caused by a proliferation of adrenergic receptors on sweat glands.
Which are longer: preganglionic sympathetic or parasympathetic fibers?
parasympathetic
Which are longer: sympathetic or parasym. postganglionic fibers?
sympathetic
Does parasympathetic system in general act locally or globally to effect change on body?
locally. It is of the “anabolic type”
Does sympathetic system act locally or globally to effect change on the body?
globally. It is of the “catabolic type”
Where is Ach released in sym. and parasym. systems?
Released from preganglionic fiber of sympathetic system, and both pre and postganglionic fibers of parasym. system
Where is NE released?
From postganglionic sympathetic fibers