The autonomic nervous system Flashcards
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Somatic and autonomic
What does the autonomic nervous system innervate?
Visceral structures, Fat, Vasculature
Where is the control centre for the parasympathetic nervous system located?
In the rostral hypothalamus
Where is the control centre for the sympathetic nervous system located?
In the caudal hypothalamus
What is the enteric nervous system?
autonomic neurones that collectively innervate the alimentary tract
What is the alimentary tract?
it is part of the digestive system
Where is the submucousal (meisner) plexus located?
within the submucosa
Where is the myenteric (auerbachs) plexus found?
between circular and longitudinal muscle
Where do the sympathetic pathways originate from?
originates from lateral/intermediate horn of the thoracolumbar spinal cord
Where does the sympathetic pathway leave the spinal cord from?
It leaves via ventral roots of T1 to L3/L4
What neurotransmitter and receptor do almost all pre-ganglionic neurons use?
AcH and a nicotinic receptor
What kind of post-ganglionic receptor does the parasympathetic system use?
Mainly muscarinic
What are the main post-ganglionic receptors that the sympathetic nervous system uses?
alpha and beta receptors
What neurotransmitters does the sympathetic nervous system use?
Adrenaline/ Noradrenaline
What neurotransmitter does the parasympathetic nervous system use?
Acetylcholine
What are white ramus communicans?
communicating branches that connects the spinal nerve to the sympathetic trunk (pre-ganglionic)
What are grey ramus communicans?
communicating branch that allows for the passage of post-ganglionic sympathetic neurons
What is the basic pathway for all sympathetic pre-ganglionic neurons?
ventral root → spinal nerve → (white)
ramus communicans → sym. Trunk
What is the post-ganglionic pathway for innervation to the body wall and limbs?
Sym. trunk → (grey) rami communicans →
spinal nerve
What is the post-ganglionic pathway for innervation to the head?
Sym. trunk → ansa subclavia → cervical
sympathetic trunk
What is the post-ganglionic pathway for innervation to the abdomen and pelvis?
Sym. trunk → major, minor and lumbar
splanchnic nerves → various ganglia
What is the difference between the parasympathetic and sympathetic pathway?
parasympathetic pathway uses nuclei instead of ganglia, and they synapse in ganglia closer to the target organ
What is true for all sympathetic pathways?
Originate in the lateral part of the horn
leaves ventrally
they synapse in a chain of ganglia right next to the spinal cord (hence short-pre ganglionic)
Where do parasympathetic nerves arise from?
The brain and the sacrum
What does the vagus nerve innervate?
ot leaves the brainstem and innervates all our thoracic and abdominal viscera
Where does the vagus nerve and the cranial sympathetic trunk run together?
Between the cranial cervical ganglion and the middle cervical ganglion
What is the name of the plexus that the pelvic nerve expands into?
It expands into the pelvic plexus
What are the two parts of the enteric nervous system where autonomic nerves can be found?
The submucousal or the Auerbach plexus
