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Medicine > Physiology (Autonomic Nervous System) > Flashcards

Physiology (Autonomic Nervous System) Flashcards

1
Q

Q: What is the general function of the sympathetic nervous system?

A

Catabolic and energy-consuming system (stress, fight, fear, and flight).

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2
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the eye?

A

Dilator pupillae muscle: Contraction → Mydriasis (pupil dilatation).
Smooth muscle of upper eyelid: Contraction → widening of palpebral fissure → increased field of vision.
Ciliary muscle: Relaxation → decreased lens power → far vision.
Müller’s muscle (animals): Contraction → eyeball protrusion → exophthalmos.
Conjunctival vessels: Vasoconstriction (VC).

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3
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the skin?

A

Sweat glands: Stimulates secretion.
Cutaneous blood vessels: Vasoconstriction.
Piloerector muscles: Contraction → hair erection

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4
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on salivary glands?

A

Trophic secretion of saliva: Small amount, concentrated, and viscid

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5
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the brain and cerebral circulation?

A

Cerebral circulation: Increased blood flow (due to increased ABP) with mild vasoconstriction.
Brain: Increased mental alertness

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6
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the heart?

A

ncreases all cardiac properties:
Rate and force of contraction.
Excitability.
Rate of conduction.
Coronary blood vessels: Indirect vasodilatation.

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7
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the lungs?

A

Bronchodilatation.
Mild vasoconstriction of pulmonary blood vessels.

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8
Q

Q: What causes Horner’s Syndrome, and what are its manifestations?

A

Cause: Lesion on one side of the cervical sympathetic chain.
Manifestations (on the same side):
Miosis: Constricted pupil.
Ptosis: Drooping of the upper eyelid.
Anhidrosis: Absence of sweating.
Warm and red skin: Due to vasodilatation

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9
Q

Q: What is the origin and relay of the sympathetic fibers for head, neck, and thoracic viscera?

A

Head & Neck:
Origin: Lateral horn cells of T1-T2.
Relay: Cervical ganglia.
Thoracic Viscera:
Origin: Lateral horn cells of T1-T4.
Relay: Cervical and upper thoracic ganglia.

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10
Q

Q: What is the origin and relay of sympathetic fibers to the abdominal viscera?

A

Origin: LHCs of T5-T12.
Relay: Greater splanchnic nerve → coeliac & superior mesenteric ganglia.

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11
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the gastrointestinal tract?

A

Relaxation of smooth muscles (stomach, small intestine, proximal large intestine).
Contraction of sphincters (e.g., pyloric sphincter).

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12
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on abdominal blood vessels?

A

Vasoconstriction of arterioles supplying abdominal viscera.
Vasodilatation in specific arterioles.

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13
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the liver, spleen, and adrenal medulla?

A

Liver: Stimulates glycogenolysis → increases blood glucose.

Spleen: Contraction of capsule → releases stored blood (RBCs).
Adrenal Medulla: Secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline into blood

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14
Q

Q: What is the origin and relay of sympathetic fibers to the pelvic viscera?

A

Origin: LHCs of T12-L2.
Relay: Lesser splanchnic nerve → inferior mesenteric ganglion.

Course: Postganglionic fibers run with blood vessels to pelvic organs

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15
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the gastrointestinal tract in the pelvis?

A

Relaxation of smooth muscles (distal large intestine & rectum).
Contraction of internal anal sphincter → fecal retention

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16
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the urinary bladder?

A

Relaxation of bladder wall.

Contraction of internal urethral sphincter → urine retention.

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17
Q

Q: What is the function of the sympathetic system on the adrenal medulla?

A

Stimulates secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline directly into the bloodstream → enhances “fight or flight” response.

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18
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the spleen?

A

Contraction of the splenic capsule → releases stored blood (RBCs) into circulation.

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19
Q

Q: How does the sympathetic system affect gastrointestinal sphincters?

A

Causes contraction of sphincters (e.g., pyloric sphincter, internal anal sphincter) → retention of contents (food or feces).

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20
Q

Q: What is the sympathetic effect on blood glucose levels?

A

Stimulates glycogenolysis in the liver → increases blood glucose to provide energy for “fight or flight” situations.

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21
Q

Q: What happens to the urinary bladder under sympathetic control?

A

Relaxation of bladder wall muscles → prevents urination.
Contraction of the internal urethral sphincter → retains urine.

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22
Q

Q: How does the sympathetic system regulate blood vessels?

A

Vasoconstriction of arterioles in abdominal and pelvic viscera → redirects blood to vital organs (brain, heart, muscles).
Selective vasodilatation of certain arterioles when necessary.

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23
Q

Q: Summarize the sympathetic effects on abdominal GIT.

A

Abdominal GIT:
Relaxes smooth muscles (stomach, small intestine, proximal large intestine).

Contracts sphincters (pyloric sphincter).

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24
Q

Q: Summarize the sympathetic effects on pelvic GIT.

A

Pelvic GIT:
relaxes smooth muscles (distal large intestine, rectum).

Contracts internal anal sphincter → fecal retention.

25
Q

Q: Summarize the pathway of sympathetic fibers for head, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.

A

Head & Neck: LHCs T1-T2 → Cervical ganglia → Blood vessels.
Thoracic Viscera: LHCs T1-T4 → Paravertebral ganglia → Organs.

Abdominal Viscera: LHCs T5-T12 → Coeliac/Superior mesenteric ganglia → Organs.

Pelvic Viscera: LHCs T12-L2 → Inferior mesenteric ganglion → Organs.

26
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on female genital organs?

A

The effects are variable depending on the stage of the menstrual cycle.

27
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on male genital organs?

A

Vasoconstriction of blood vessels → shrinkage of the penis.
Contraction of:
Vas deferens
Seminal vesicles
Prostate gland
→ Leads to ejaculation of semen.

28
Q

Q: What are the sympathetic effects on the urinary bladder?

A

Relaxation of the smooth muscles in the bladder wall → inhibits urination.

Contraction of the internal urethral sphincter → retention of urine.

29
Q

Q: What is the general function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Anabolic and energy-preserving system.
Controls activities during rest, digestion, and reading.

30
Q

Q: What is the pathway of parasympathetic fibers of the oculomotor nerve?

A

Origin: Edinger-Westphal nucleus in the midbrain.
Relay: In the ciliary ganglion.
Course: Postganglionic fibers enter the eye as short ciliary nerves.

31
Q

Q: Where do the preganglionic fibers of the oculomotor nerve originate?

A

A: From the Edinger-Westphal nucleus in the midbrain.

32
Q

Q: In which ganglion do the oculomotor preganglionic fibers relay?

A

A: In the ciliary ganglion.

33
Q

Q: What is the course of the postganglionic fibers of the oculomotor nerve?

A

A: They enter the eye as short ciliary nerves.

34
Q

Q: Which muscle contracts to cause pupil constriction under parasympathetic control?

A

A: The constrictor pupillae muscle.

35
Q

Q: What is the medical term for parasympathetic-induced pupil constriction?

A

Miosis

36
Q

Q: What effect does the parasympathetic system have on the ciliary muscle?

A

A: It causes contraction of the ciliary muscle.

37
Q

Q: How does contraction of the ciliary muscle affect the lens of the eye?

A

A: It increases the power of the lens, preparing the eye for near vision.

38
Q

Q: What is the function of the short ciliary nerves in the parasympathetic pathway?

A

A: They carry postganglionic fibers to the eye.

39
Q

Q: What is the origin, relay, and course of parasympathetic fibers in the oculomotor nerve?

A

Origin: Edinger-Westphal nucleus.
Relay: Ciliary ganglion.
Course: Short ciliary nerves enter the eye.

40
Q

Q: What are the two main parasympathetic effects mediated by the oculomotor nerve?

A

Miosis: Contraction of constrictor pupillae muscle.
Accommodation for near vision: Contraction of the ciliary muscle

41
Q

Q: Where do the preganglionic fibers of the facial nerve originate?

A

A: From the superior salivary nucleus in the lower pons.

42
Q

Q: Where do the preganglionic fibers of the facial nerve relay?

A

Sphenopalatine ganglion (for lacrimal and nasal glands).
Submandibular ganglion (via chorda tympani) for submandibular and sublingual glands.

43
Q

Q: What is the course of the postganglionic fibers from the sphenopalatine ganglion?

A

A: They supply the lacrimal glands and nasal glands.

44
Q

Q: What is the role of the chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve?

A

A: It carries preganglionic fibers to relay in the submandibular ganglion.

45
Q

Q: Which glands are supplied by postganglionic fibers from the submandibular ganglion?

A

Submandibular salivary gland
Sublingual salivary gland

46
Q

Q: What are the main parasympathetic functions of the facial nerve?

A

secretomotor: Stimulates secretion of:
Lacrimal glands
Nasal glands
Submandibular and sublingual salivary glands
Vasodilation (VD): Increases blood flow to the glands

47
Q
A
48
Q

Q: Where do the preganglionic fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve originate?

A

A: From the inferior salivary nucleus located between the pons and medulla.

49
Q

Q: Where do the preganglionic fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve relay?

A

A: In the otic ganglion.

50
Q

Q: What is the course of postganglionic fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve?

A

A: Postganglionic fibers travel from the otic ganglion to supply the parotid gland.

51
Q

Q: What are the functions of the glossopharyngeal nerve parasympathetic fibers?

A

Secretomotor: Stimulates secretion of the parotid gland.
Vasodilation (VD): Increases blood flow to the parotid gland.

52
Q

Q: Where do the preganglionic fibers of the vagus nerve originate?

A

A: From the vagal nucleus in the medulla oblongata.

53
Q

Q: What is the course of the vagus nerve parasympathetic fibers?

A

A: Preganglionic fibers run in the vagus nerve to supply the thoracic and abdominal viscera.

54
Q

Q: Where do the preganglionic fibers of the vagus nerve relay?

A

A: In terminal ganglia located inside or close to the organ.

55
Q

Q: What are the parasympathetic effects of the vagus nerve on the heart?

A

The vagus nerve does not supply the ventricles.
Inhibits all properties of the atrial cardiac muscle only.
Decreases coronary blood flow and O₂ consumption.

56
Q

Q: What are the parasympathetic effects of the vagus nerve on the lungs?

A

Bronchoconstriction.
Vasodilation of pulmonary blood vessels.
Stimulation of bronchial glands → increases secretion.

57
Q

Q: What are the parasympathetic effects of the vagus nerve on the gastrointestinal tract?

A

Contraction of smooth muscles in:
Esophagus
Stomach
Small intestine
Proximal part of the large intestine.

Relaxation of GIT sphincters.

Stimulation of secretions from:
GIT glands
Liver
Pancreas.

58
Q
A

Medicine (7 decks)

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