The Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

Efferent

A

Conducting/carrying outgoing signals

  • carries signals from the brain/spinal cord to periphery
  • motoneurone or autonomic neurone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Ganglion

A
  • collection of neuronal cell bodies in the PNS
    PRE-ganglion neurone
  • neurone immediately proximal to the ganglion
    POST-ganglion neurone
  • neurone immediately distal to the ganglion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Effector

A
  • target organ through which the nervous system exerts its action
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The CNS

A

Encasement of the cranium and vertebral column (by bony structures)
Suspended in cerebrospinal fluid
Responsible for the sophisticated functions of the nervous system

Neurones in CNS known as pre-ganglionic
Axons are myelinated
White Rami communicates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

The PNS

A

The nervous system outside of the CNS
Connects the CNS to target organs and sensory organs to the CNS

Neurones in PNS known as post-ganglionic
Stroma cause swellings known as ganglia
Axons are not myelinated
Grey Rami communicates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The somatic nervous system

A

Somatic efferents are under voluntary control

- are underdeveloped at birth so can be programmed by the environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The autonomic nervous system

A

Becomes active with organogenesis and doesn’t stop during life
Balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
- establishes and maintains homeostasis
- autonomic tone varies between SNS and PNS dominance
- sweat glands only receive sympathetic drive
Overactivity of PNS = dilated blood vessels, shortage of substrate to brain, fainting
Overactivity of SNS = constriction of blood vessels - necrosis of body extremities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The sympathetic nervous system

fight or flight system

A

Expressed in stressful situations
- expenditure of energy
- diversion of blood to muscle and heart
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- reduced blood flow to skin and gastrointestinal tract
From the spinal cord only
- all 12 thoracic segments and the first 2 lumbar segments
- thoraco-lumbar division of ANS
- cholinergic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The parasympathetic nervous system

the rest and digest system

A
  • reduced heart rate and force of heart contraction
  • promotes digestion
  • promotes emptying of bladder
  • promotes sleep
    From brain and spinal cord
  • cranial nerves (III, VII, IX, X)
  • sacral spinal cord levels (S2, S3, S4)
  • the Cranio-Sacral division
    Post ganglionic (cholinergic and express nicotinic receptors)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Afferent

A

Conducts/carries incoming signals

  • from periphery to CNS
  • sensory neurones
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly