Test 2 Flashcards
Functions of the ANS
-Functionally maintaining homeostasis
-Regulates body temperature via control of sweat glands and vascular smooth muscle
-Regulates the activity of body systems
+CV, respiratory, digestive, excretory, reproductive system
-Monitors and adjusts body fluids, fine-tuning concentrations of electrolytes, nutrients, and dissolved gases
Autonomic vs. Somatic Nervous Systems
SOMATIC
-Neurons in the CNS synapse directly onto effectors
-Innervates skeletal muscle in the body wall and limbs, as well as overlying skin
Brain stem—somatic motor neuron—>skeletal muscle
AUTONOMIC
-CNS controls effects via a two neuron chain
-Innervates visceral organs, since there is no skeletal muscle there
Brain stem—preganglionic neuron—>Autonomic ganglia—postganglionic neuron—>smooth or cardiac muscle/glands
Parasympathetic vs. Sympathetic Nervous Systems: Preganglionic Neuronal Cell Bodies
CNS
PARASYMPATHETIC
-CRANIOSACRAL: brainstem cranial nerve nuclei and spinal cord (S2-S4)
SYMPATHETIC
-THORACOLUMBAR: Spinal cord levels (T1-L2)
Parasympathetic vs. Sympathetic Nervous Systems: Postganglionic Neuronal Cell Bodies
PNS
PARASYMPATHETIC
-Ganglia are located IN OR NEAR TARGET ORGAN (intramural)
SYMPATHETIC
-Ganglia are located near the spinal cord in either the PAIRED SYMPATHETIC CHAIN GANGLIA or UNPAIRED PREAORTIC GANGLIA
Parasympathetic vs. Sympathetic Nervous Systems: Preganglionic Neurotransmitters
ACh is released and used on nAChRs on the postganlionic neuron
Parasympathetic vs. Sympathetic Nervous Systems: Postganglionic Neurotransmitters
PARASYMPATHETIC
-Release ACh and act on MUSCARINIC AChRs
SYMPATHETIC
- Most release NOREPINEPHRINE
- Exceptions
1. Adrenal Medulla releases 80% epinephrine/20% NE
2. Sweat glands release ACh and act on mAChRs
Organization of the Spinal Grey Matter
-DEEP: Grey matter forms a continuous column extending the length of the cord
-ALL LEVELS: Grey matter forms a butterfly in cross section, divided into
+DORSAL HORNS - Sensory; receives input via spinal nerves and dorsal roots
+VENTRAL HORNS - Somatic motor; conducts output via ventral roots and spinal nerves
-CERTAIN LEVELS: INTERMEDIOLATERAL CELL COLUMN contains autonomic preganglionic motor neurons and conducts output via ventral roots and ensuing nerves
Sympathetic Division
TARGETS
- Smooth muscle of limbs and body wall
- Viscera of head and thorax
- Viscera of abdomen and pelvis
-Preganglionic neurons located in the lateral grey horns (T1-L2)
-Axons travel via ventral roots, spinal nerves and synapse onto the postganglionic neurons located in the sympathetic ganglia near the vertebral column, either:
+in bilaterally paired SYMPATHETIC CHAIN GANGLIA
+in unpaired PREVERTEBRAL GANGLIA
-Postganglionic axons innervate the target organ
Sympathetic Innervations: Body Wall and Limbs
-Body wall and limbs are innervated by postganglionic sympathetic neurons located in the paravertebral or sympathetic chain ganglia
-Target organs are smooth muscle of erector pili, blood vessels, and glands of all dermatomes
-Preganglionic sympathetic fibres can ascend or descend within the sympathetic chain ganglia before synapsing
+Chain exists so we can get to the other dermatomes that are controlled by spinal nerves not in T1-L2
Sympathetic Innervations: Thoracic Viscera and Face
- Innervated by postganglionic sympathetic nerves in the paravertebral or sympathetic chain ganglia
- THORAX: Axons of postganglionic nerves form SPLANCHNIC nerves (cardiac, pulmonary, esophogeal splanchnic nerves), which contribute to AUTONOMIC PLEXI (cardiac, pulmonary, esophogeal plexi) that innervate targets in the thorax
- FACE: Axons of postganglionic nerves for AUTONOMIC PLEXI, which hitch a ride with arteries to reach their targets; plexi named after the artery it travels with
Sympathetic Innervations: Abdominopelvic Viscera
-Innervated by postganglionic sympathetic neurons located in the PREVERTEBRAL ganglia (celia, superior and inferior mesenteric ganglia)
-Axons of the postganglionic neurons contribute to AUTONOMIC PLEXI, which hitch a ride with the arteries to reach their target organs
+Named by the blood vessel (celiac, inferior and superior mesenteric plexi)
Adrenal Medulla
- One of the portions of the mixed glands that sits on top of the kidney
- Modified sympathetic ganglion
- Innervated by preganglionic sympathetic neurons of the lateral grey horns
- Postganglionic neurons of the adrenal medulla release epinephrine and norepinephrine, which is picked up by blood vessels for systemic distribution
Parasympathetic Nervous System Division
-Preganglionic neuronal cell bodies located in the brainstem cranial nerves and axons travel via the cranial nerves
-Intermediolateral cell column (S2-S4) where autonomic preganglionic motor neurons are located; conducts output via ventral roots and ensuing nerves
-Ganglia are located near the effector organs
-Short postganglionic fibres innervate the cells of the effector organs
-CRANIAL NERVES
+III, VII, IX innervate viscera of the FACE
+X (Vagus nerve) innervates viscera of the THORAX and most of ABDOMEN
+Pelvic splanchnic nerves innervate the viscera of the DISTAL ABDOMEN AND PELVIS
Autonomic Plexi
- Overlap of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
- Plexus is a network of nerves
THORAX named by target
- Cardiac plexus
- Pulmonary plexus
- Esophogeal plexus
DIGESTIVE TRACT named by blood supply
- Celiac plexus
- Superior mesenteric plexus
- Inferior mesenteric plexus
OTHER
- Hypogastric plexus
- Pelvic plexus
Autonomic Afferents: Homeostatic Input
- Afferents from an organ retrace the path taken by the efferents, so if you know the motor output, you know the sensory input
- Afferents carrying homeostatic sensory information generally travel with PARASYMPATHETIC EFFERENTS, which is generally the VAGUS NERVE (with the exception of the distal digestive tract and pelvis)
Autonomic Afferents: Visceral Pain
-Viscera are insensitive to cutting, burning and freezing
-Visceral pain is caused by:
1. Ischemia - lack of blood flow/oxygen
2. Distension
3. Inflammation
4. Blood
5. Etc.
-Visceral pain usually travels with the SYMPATHETIC EFFERENTS
-In the spinal cord, overlap with afferents from the T1-T5 dermatomes gives rise to the referral of cardiac pain to these dermatomes (ie. chest, armpit, medial arm) –> REFERRED PAIN
+Pain due to visceral damage is perceived as coming from the body wall because the dorsal horn is sensory and also receives from the heart afferents so the cells are not sure where the signal is coming from and thus interprets it as coming from the body wall
Cardiovascular System
- Closed system
- Heart is a double pump
- RIGHT moves blood through PULMONARY circulation
- LEFT moves blood through SYSTEMIC circulation
- ARTERIES carry blood AWAY from heart
- VEINS carry blood TOWARD heart
- Gas exchange occurs across the walls of CAPILLARIES
Structure of Large Blood Vessels
- Walls of arteries and veins consist of 3 distinct layers, innermost to outermost
1. Tunica intima
2. Tunica media
3. Tunica externa/adventitia
Tunica Intima
-Endothelium (SIMPLE SQUAMOUS) lines all blood vessels and heart chambers
+Selectively permeable barrier (simple diffusion, active transport, pinocytosis, receptor-mediated endocytosis)
+NONTHROMBOGENIC discourages clot formation - smooth, nonturbulent, secretion of anticoagulants (thrombomodulin), and antithromogenic agents (Tissue Plasminogen Antigen)
+Can modulate vascular resistance, and therefore blood flow, through release of NO, and the action of membrane-bound enzymes
+Regulation of immune responses by expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules which control leukocyte adhesion and transmigration
-Subendothelial fibroelastic CT
-In some vessels, the INTERNAL ELASTIC LAMINA
Tunica Media
- Concentric layers of smooth muscle cells spray around vessel
- VASOCONSTRICTION increases vascular resistance; NO triggers relaxation of smooth muscle cells
- VASODILATION decreases vascular resistance
- Sympathetic input controls vessel diameter
- In some arteries, alternate layers of ELASTIN, a fenestrated elastic layer
- In some vessels, the EXTERNAL ELASTIC LAMINA
Tunica Externa/Adventitia
- CT sheath connecting blood vessel to surrounding structures
- In larger vessels, contains VASA VASORA (own blood supply)
Structure of Arteries: Elastic Arteries
-Largest arteries, closest to the heart
-Includes aorta and main branches (brachiocephalic trunk, common carotids, subclavians, common iliac arteries)
-Tunica media contains abundant elastin in the form of fenestrated sheets
+Modulates changes in BP during cardiac cycle
+Propels blood between contractions of heart
+Internal and external elastic laminae (in tunica intimate and media, respextively) due to layers of elastin
-Left ventricle contraction fucks with aorta all day long
+Cistalae: Passively stretched the peak of systolic blood to be not as high
+Diastalae: Drop in BP, aorta bounces back and helps to propel blood forward through the vascular tree
Structure of Arteries: Muscular Arteries
-Intermediate in size
-Distribute blood to body organs
-Includes renal arteries, gastric arteries, arteries supplying skeletal muscles
-Tunica media contains higher proportion of smooth muscle fibers (relative to elastin)
+Most modifiable because the smooth muscle can relax or constrict (increase vascular resistance) so the body can supply blood to specific organs as needed
-Internal and external elastic laminae prominent
-Regulates blood flow to organs according to tissue requirements
Structure of Arteries: Small Arteries
- 3-6 layers of smooth muscle
- Internal elastic lamina present, which is modulatable due to smooth muscle)