Lecture 9: Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

Know the differences between the somatic NS and autonomic NS

Slide 10

Answer 1

Ya

Question 2

Somatic vs. autonomic transmitter release

Answer 2

ANS varicose ones lack the pre- and post-synaptic specificity of somatic terminals

Question 3

Somatic vs. autonomic neuroeffecfor receptors

Answer 3

• Skeletal muscle has only ionotropic receptors
• ionotropic receptors produce a very rapid response
• ANS effectors express metabotropic receptors
• metabotropic transduction is slower, but can
  1) produce multiple effects
  2) amplify signals

Question 4

Autonomic nervous system anatomy

Look on slide 17, good explanation

Answer 4

Autonomic pathways involve a 2 neuron chain
-preganglionic neuron
-post ganglionic neuron
The synapse between pre- and post-ganglionic neurons occurs in an autonomic ganglion

Question 5

Describe the autonomic ganglia

Also what are the functional advantages of autonomic ganglia

Answer 5

Within an autonomic ganglion: ganglion = a knot of nerves

• synapse between pre- and post- ganglionic neurons
• intrinsic neurons

Functional advantages:
Divergence:
-one preganglionic neuron can activate many post ganglionic neurons
Coordination
-one preganglionic neuron can activate many postganglionic neurons
-one pre ganglionic neuron can activate both stimulatory and inhibitory postganglionic neurons

Question 6

Be able to compare the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in terms of:
1) function

Answer 6

-parasympathetic and sympathetic activities tend to oppose each other (there is the odd exception)
-easiest to understand in terms of the situation when they are most active
Parasympathetic: rest and digest
Sympathetic: fight or flight response

Question 7

Be able to compare the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in terms of:
2) gross anatomy

Answer 7

Difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways:
1. Spinal origin of preganglionic cell
Meh refer to slide 28

Question 8

Sympathetic enervation of the adrenal gland

Answer 8

Release of adrenalin by the adrenal gland –> amplification of sympathetic effects (more coordinated, widespread and prolonged)
Slide 29

Question 9

Be able to compare the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in terms of:
Transmitters and receptors
What are the neurotransmitters of the ANS

Answer 9

Adrenaline is also known as epinephrine
Noradrenaline is also know as norepinephrine

Both adrenaline and noradrenaline bind to adrenergic receptors
Acetylcholine bonds to cholinergic receptors

All autonomic and somatic nerves release acetylcholine except for the the postganglionic sympathetic neurons
-postganglionic SYMPATHETIC neurons release noradrenaline/adrenaline

Question 10

It’s raining Acetylcholine- except for the postganglionic sympathetic neurons. Slide 35

Answer 10

Means ex

Question 11

How is the autonomic nervous system regulated (2)

Answer 11

1) visceral reflexes
-autonomic coordination of many autonomic functions at the level of the spinal cord or brain stem
2) descending input from ‘higher’ brain centres
-conscious experience can (unconsciously) modulate activity of the ANS
Don’t need to know this….well why de fark would you tell me nigga! Don’t ya think I have enough shit to remember!