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Physiology with Pharmacology > The Autonomic Nervous System > Flashcards

The Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of the ANS?

A

Ensures survival despite lack of conscious, cortical input
Largely outside of voluntary control
Receives sensory information about the state of the body and makes required changes to maintain steady state

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2
Q

Which nerves go from periphery to CNS?

A

Afferent

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3
Q

Which nerves go from CNS to periphery?

A

Efferent?

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4
Q

What are the effectors of the somatic nervous system?

A

Skeletal muscles

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5
Q

What are the effectors of the ANS?

A

Smooth muscle (e.g. GI tract lining), Cardiac muscle, Glands

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6
Q

What feeds into the CNS for the ANS?

A

Visceral nerves - brings signals about things being monitored in the body

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7
Q

What are the two efferent ANS pathways?

A

Sympathetic - Fight or flight
Parasympathetic -

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8
Q

When is the sympathetic pathway activated?

A

Exercise, excitement, emergency, embarrassment

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9
Q

Where is the parasympathetic pathway activated?

A

Coordinated, whole body response
or
Discrete and organ specific

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10
Q

When is the parasympathetic pathway activated?

A

Digestion, defecation, diuresis

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11
Q

Where is the parasympathetic pathway activated?

A

Discrete and organ specific

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12
Q

What happens to the body during sympathetic stimulation?

A

Eye - Pupils dilate
Heart - increase HR
Lungs - dilation of bronchioles
Liver - synthesise and release more glucose for energy substrate

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13
Q

What are the discrete functions of sympathetic stimulation?

A
  • Reproductive system
  • Preventing urination - allows relaxation of bladder smooth muscle
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14
Q

What happens to the body during parasympathetic stimulation?

A

Eyes - pupil constriction
Heart - decrease HR
GI tract - allows secretion
Bladder - allows urination - contraction of bladder wall and relaxation of urinary sphincter
Reproductive - vasodilation for more blood flow

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15
Q

How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems work together?

A
  • Generally innervate the same tissues but have opposing effects
  • Antagonistic to one another but work synergistically to make change
  • Allows rapid and precise control
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16
Q

What is the general organisation of the ANS?

A

(Both sympathetic and parasympathetic)

  • Preganglionic neuron in brain or spinal cord synapses with post ganglionic neuron in peripheral ganglion - synapses with target cell
17
Q

What is the structure of Preganglionic neurones?

A
  • Pre ganglionic fibre in CNS
  • Synapse with postganglionic neurone within a ganglion
18
Q

Explain neurotransmission in preganglionic neurones

A
  • Are always cholinergic fibres - release ACh as primary NT
  • ACh activates nicotinic ACh receptors on post synaptic cell
19
Q

What is the structure of sympathetic neurones?

A
  • Short, cholinergic preganglionic neurones from thoracic and lumbar spinal cord
  • Long, adrenergic postganglionic neurones
20
Q

Which receptors are expressed at sympathetic target tissue synapses?

A

Target tissue expresses alpha and beta adrenergic receptors (GPCR)

21
Q

What NT is release from postganglionic sympathetic neurones?

A

Norepinephrine
- Crosses synaptic cleft and activates alpha and beta adrenergic GPCRs

22
Q

What is an exception to the anatomical organisation?

A

Adrenal medulla
- Chromaffin cells (function similar to postganglionic neurones) release adrenaline into blood vessels
- Target tissues express alpha and beta adrenergic receptors
- Allows coordinated, widespread sympathetic activity

23
Q

What is the structure of parasympathetic neurones?

A
  • Long, cholinergic preganglionic neurones from brainstem and sacral spinal cord
  • Short, cholinergic postganglionic neurons
24
Q

Which receptors are expressed at parasympathetic target tissue synapses?

A

Muscarinic ACh receptors (GPCR)

25
Q

What NT is released from parasympathetic postganglionic neurones?

A

Acetylcholine

26
Q

What is the vagus nerve?

A

Cranial nerve from the brain
Carries 80% of total parasympathetic outflow
Carries visceral afferents

27
Q

What are the central components of the ANS?

A

Spinal cord
- Mediates autonomic reflexes
- Receives sensory afferent and brainstem input

Brainstem nuclei
- Mediates autonomic reflexes

28
Q

How does the hypothalamus integrate and coordinate?

A
  • Feeds into the autonomic nuclei
  • Modulates reflex activity
  • Modulates output from ANS

Used for:
- Feeding, thermoregulation, circadian rhythms, water balance, sexual drive, reproduction

29
Q

What is the importance of the forebrain?

A

Regulates ANS output
- Has minimal conscious cortical control but cortical processes regulate autonomic output
e.g. anxiety - GI disturbance
- fear - fight or flight

30
Q

How are visceral afferents important?

A

Sensory input from visceral afferent neurones takes priority over cortical functions
e.g. bladder distension (only hold up to certain point)

Physiology with Pharmacology (11 decks)

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