Lecture 2.5: Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

The autonomic nervous system controls the

Answer 1

body functions that we have little awareness of and no conscious control over. (Includes respiration, heart rate, blood pressure)

Question 2

Where is the integrated center of the autonomic nervous system?
What happens after, the process?

Answer 2

Hypothalamus

• The motor neuron carries information from the hypothalamus to the autonomic centers

From autonomic centers, series of motor neurons carry information to visceral effector.

Question 3

What are the two autonomic neurons?

Answer 3

1 Preganglionic neuron

2. Postganglionic neuron

Question 4

Preganglionic neuron

Answer 4

• cell bodies lie in the brain stem and spinal cord
  -part of visceral reflex arcs
• Leaves the CNS and synapse with postganglionic neurons at the autonomic ganglia

Question 5

Postganglionic neuron

Answer 5

• cell bodies are in the peripheral autonomic ganglia
• innervates visceral effectors (cardiac muscle, smooth muscle,glands, adipose tissue.)

Question 6

What are the two major divisions of the autonomic nervous system.

Answer 6

1. Sympathetic
2. Parasympathetic

Question 7

Both divisions influence a third autonomic division called the

Answer 7

Enteric nervous system

Question 8

Sympathetic Division

Answer 8

• Activates during periods of external stress or emergency (fight or flight)
• also called thoracolumbar

Question 9

Sympathetic division process

Answer 9

1. Axons emerge from cell bodies within lateral gray horns of thoracic and superior lumbar segments of the spinal cord (T1-L2)
2. Axons innervate at the autonomic ganglia relatively close to the spinal cord.

Question 10

Parasympathetic Division

Answer 10

• Resting conditions (rest and repose)
  Responsible for sexual arousal and erection
• Also called the craniosacral division

Question 11

Parasympathetic process

Answer 11

1. Axons emerge from brain stem nuclei and lateral gray horns of sacral segments of the spinal cord.
2. Axons innervate autonomic ganglia very close to (or within) target organ

Question 12

Enteric Division

Answer 12

• Extensive network of neurons and nerve networks located in walls of the digestive tract.

Question 13

What neurotransmitter does the sympathetic nervous system use?

Answer 13

epinephrine / norepinephrine

Question 14

which type of receptors are in the synaptic nervous system? Which two are they?

Answer 14

Adrenergic receptors.

Alpha receptors (smooth muscle)
Beta receptors (cardiac and smooth muscle)

Question 15

What neurotransmitter does the parasympathetic nervous system use?

Answer 15

Acetylcholine

Question 16

What type of receptors are in the parasympathetic nervous system? Which two receptors are they??

Answer 16

Cholinergic receptors

Nicotinic receptors
Muscarinic receptors