Lecture 7: Autonomic NS

Question 1

What are the 2 hallmarks of a Facilitated Segment (aka SD)?

Answer 1

1) Lowered neuronal threshold
2) Hypersensitivity of receptive fields

Question 2

Spinal levels for sympathethic innervation of the Head/Neck and Heart/lungs?

Answer 2

• Head/neck + upper esophagus = T1-5
• Heart/lungs = T1-6

Question 3

Spinal levels for sympathethic innervation of the Upper GI + Lower esophagus?

Answer 3

T5-10

Question 4

Spinal levels for sympathethic innervation of the Small Intestine and Ascending Colon?

Answer 4

T9-11

Question 5

Spinal level for sympathethic innervation of the Appendix?

Answer 5

T12

Question 6

Spinal levels for sympathethic innervation of the Adrenal?

Answer 6

T5-10

Question 7

Spinal levels for sympathethic innervation of the GU tract & Bladder?

Answer 7

T10-L2

Question 8

Spinal levels for sympathethic innervation of the Ureter - Upper/Lower?

Answer 8

Upper = T10-11

Lower = T12-L2

Question 9

Spinal levels for sympathethic innervation of the Descending Colon/Pelvis/Rectum and Bladder?

Answer 9

T12-L2

Question 10

Spinal levels for sympathethic innervation of the Upper and Lower Extremities?

Answer 10

Upper = T2-7

Lower = T11-L2

Question 11

Parasympathetic innervation by CN X (Vagus) covers which structures?

Answer 11

• Heart, lung, thyroid, carotids
• Upper/Middle GI, Liver
• Kidney, Upper Ureter
• Ovaries/Testes

Question 12

Parasympathetic innervation by S2-4 (Pelvic Splanchnic) covers what structures?

Answer 12

• Lower GI, Uterus/Cervix, Penis/Clitoris
• Lower Ureter, Bladder

Question 13

Spinal facilitation is the maintenance of a pool of neurons in what state?

Results in?

Answer 13

• A state of partial or subthreshold excitation
• In this state, less afferent stimulation is required to trigger the discharge of impulses

Question 14

Spinal facilitation may be due to sustained increase in what 3 factors?

Answer 14

• Afferent input
• Aberrant patterns of afferent input
• Changes within the affected neurons themselves or their chemical enviornement

Question 15

5 OMT techniques that can be used to decrease sympathetic activity?

Answer 15

• Rib-raising
• Paraspinal inhibition
• Cervical ganglia inhibition
• Abdominal collateral ganglia technique
• Target non-neutral (type II) SD if present

Question 16

6 OMT techniques which can be used to normalize parasympathetic tone?

Answer 16

• Suboccipital inhibition
• Sphenopalatine ganglia release
• Sacral inhibition and rocking
• Sacroiliac joint gapping
• BLT
• Gentle ME

Question 17

What did Louisa Burns do?

Answer 17

• Induced SD of the atlas, C6, and T3 in rabbits
• Measured pulse (rate and amplitude); respons to exercise; EKG and tissue samples

Question 18

In rabbits with induced SD of the Atlast what was seen 2 months later?

Answer 18

• Developed arrhythmias
• Theorized to be result of vagal nerve facilitation

Question 19

What changes did the cardiac cross sections of Louisa Burns rabbits show?

Answer 19

• Neurotrophic changes
• Abnormal color to tissue, irregular striation, abundant fibrils
• Edema
• Hemorrhagic areas
• Overgrowth of CT

Question 20

Spinal levels for the sympathetics to the kidney?

Answer 20

T10-L2