The autonomic nervous system

Question 1

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 1

Somatic and autonomic

Question 2

What does the autonomic nervous system innervate?

Answer 2

Visceral structures, Fat, Vasculature

Question 3

Where is the control centre for the parasympathetic nervous system located?

Answer 3

In the rostral hypothalamus

Question 4

Where is the control centre for the sympathetic nervous system located?

Answer 4

In the caudal hypothalamus

Question 5

What is the enteric nervous system?

Answer 5

autonomic neurones that collectively innervate the alimentary tract

Question 6

What is the alimentary tract?

Answer 6

it is part of the digestive system

Question 7

Where is the submucousal (meisner) plexus located?

Answer 7

within the submucosa

Question 8

Where is the myenteric (auerbachs) plexus found?

Answer 8

between circular and longitudinal muscle

Question 9

Where do the sympathetic pathways originate from?

Answer 9

originates from lateral/intermediate horn of the thoracolumbar spinal cord

Question 10

Where does the sympathetic pathway leave the spinal cord from?

Answer 10

It leaves via ventral roots of T1 to L3/L4

Question 11

What neurotransmitter and receptor do almost all pre-ganglionic neurons use?

Answer 11

AcH and a nicotinic receptor

Question 12

What kind of post-ganglionic receptor does the parasympathetic system use?

Answer 12

Mainly muscarinic

Question 13

What are the main post-ganglionic receptors that the sympathetic nervous system uses?

Answer 13

alpha and beta receptors

Question 14

What neurotransmitters does the sympathetic nervous system use?

Answer 14

Adrenaline/ Noradrenaline

Question 15

What neurotransmitter does the parasympathetic nervous system use?

Answer 15

Acetylcholine

Question 16

What are white ramus communicans?

Answer 16

communicating branches that connects the spinal nerve to the sympathetic trunk (pre-ganglionic)

Question 17

What are grey ramus communicans?

Answer 17

communicating branch that allows for the passage of post-ganglionic sympathetic neurons

Question 18

What is the basic pathway for all sympathetic pre-ganglionic neurons?

Answer 18

ventral root → spinal nerve → (white)
ramus communicans → sym. Trunk

Question 19

What is the post-ganglionic pathway for innervation to the body wall and limbs?

Answer 19

Sym. trunk → (grey) rami communicans →
spinal nerve

Question 20

What is the post-ganglionic pathway for innervation to the head?

Answer 20

Sym. trunk → ansa subclavia → cervical
sympathetic trunk

Question 21

What is the post-ganglionic pathway for innervation to the abdomen and pelvis?

Answer 21

Sym. trunk → major, minor and lumbar
splanchnic nerves → various ganglia

Question 22

What is the difference between the parasympathetic and sympathetic pathway?

Answer 22

parasympathetic pathway uses nuclei instead of ganglia, and they synapse in ganglia closer to the target organ

Question 23

What is true for all sympathetic pathways?

Answer 23

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)

Question 24

Where do parasympathetic nerves arise from?

Answer 24

The brain and the sacrum

Question 25

What does the vagus nerve innervate?

Answer 25

ot leaves the brainstem and innervates all our thoracic and abdominal viscera

Question 26

Where does the vagus nerve and the cranial sympathetic trunk run together?

Answer 26

Between the cranial cervical ganglion and the middle cervical ganglion

Question 27

What is the name of the plexus that the pelvic nerve expands into?

Answer 27

It expands into the pelvic plexus

Question 28

What are the two parts of the enteric nervous system where autonomic nerves can be found?

Answer 28

The submucousal or the Auerbach plexus