The Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 5 regions of the brain stem/spinal cord, starting superiorly?

A
Medullary
Cranial
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
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2
Q

Which region of the spinal cord do sympathetic nerve fibres stem from?

A

Thoracic region

Lumbar region

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3
Q

What part of the spinal cord do parasympathetic nerve fibres stem from?

A

Medullary

Sacral

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4
Q

Where is the vagus nerve found? What does it control?

A

In the medullary region

Controls heart rate

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5
Q

Where are parasympathetic ganglia located?

A

In the innervated tissues

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6
Q

Where are sympathetic ganglia located?

A

In the paravertebral chain, near the spinal cord

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7
Q

What are the structures of the preganglionic and postganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibres?

A
Preganglionic = long myelinated
Postganglionic = short unmyelinated
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8
Q

What are the structures of the preganglionic and postganglionic nerve fibres in the sympathetic nervous system?

A
Preganglionic = short myelinated
Postganglionic = long unmyelinated
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9
Q

What are the primary neurotransmitters of the ANS?

A

ACh

NA

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10
Q

All preganglionic neurones in the ANS use which neurotransmitter?

A

ACh (cholinergic)

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11
Q

What receptors does ACh work on at preganglionic neurone synapses?

A

Nicotinic ACh receptors

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12
Q

What types of receptors are nicotinic ACh receptors?

A

Ligand gated ion channels

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13
Q

What neurotransmitter and receptors are found at postganglionic parasympathetic neurones?

A

Acetylcholine

Muscarinic ACh receptors

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14
Q

What are the subtypes of muscarinic ACh receptors? What type of receptor is it?

A

m1 to m5

GPCR

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15
Q

What neurotransmitter and receptors are found at postganglionic sympathetic neurones?

A

Noradrenaline

Adrenoceptors

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16
Q

What subtypes of adrenoceptors exist? What type of receptor is it?

A

A1,a2, b1, b2, b3

GPCRs

17
Q

Are all sympathetic postganglionic neurones adrenergic?

A

No some are cholinergic

E.g. Those innervating sweat glands, hair follicles

18
Q

What other neurotransmitters are found in the ANS?

A

NANC transmitters such as NO and ATP are found in the ANS

Usually correlated with ACh or NA

19
Q

What do chromaffin cells release?

A

Adrenaline

20
Q

What results in the release of neurotransmitter at synapses?

A

Depolarisation dependent influx of calcium ions

21
Q

How is ACh synthesised? Which enzyme catalyses the reaction?

A

Acetyl coA + choline —-> Acetycholine + coenzyme A

Choline acetyltransferase

22
Q

How is acetylcholine degraded? Which enzyme catalyses this reaction?

A

Acetylcholine —-> choline + acetate

Acetylcholinesterase

23
Q

What is trimethaphan used for?

A

Used in hypertensive emergencies and in surgery to block nAChRs

24
Q

What is tolterodine?

A

A m3 antagonist –> used to treat an overactive bladder

25
Q

Give an example of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor?

A

Donepezil to treat Alzheimer’s disease

26
Q

What is SLUDGE a mnemonic for?

A

The effects of massive discharge of the parasympathetic nervous system - chronic over stimulation of mAChRs

27
Q

What does SLUDGE stand for?

A
Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
GI upset
Emesis
28
Q

What is lacrimation and emesis?

A

Tearing

Vomiting

29
Q

When is SLUDGE encountered?

A

When there has been;

Drug overdose
Magic mushroom ingestion
Nerve gases
Exposure to insecticides

30
Q

What is the treatment for SLUDGE?

A

Atropine
Pralidoxime

Both anti-cholinergic agents

31
Q

Give an example of mAChR agonists and what they are used to treat?

A

Pilocarpine - treat glaucoma

Bethanecol - stimulate bladder emptying

32
Q

Give an example of mAChR antagonists and what they are used to treat?

A

Ipratropium - asthma and COPD

Tolterodine - overactive bladder

33
Q

What is the structure of post ganglionic sympathetic neurones?

A

They are highly branched and consist of bulges called varicosities where NA can be released

34
Q

How is NA synthesised? Which enzymes are used?

A

Tyrosine –> DOPA —> Dopamine—> NA

1) tyrosine hydroxylase
2) dopa decarboxylase
3) dopamine b-hydroxylase

35
Q

What happens following calcium-dependent release of NA?

A

NA diffuses across the synaptic cleft

Binds with postsynaptic adrenoceptors initiating the signal
Binds with presynaptic adrenoceptors regulating NA release

36
Q

How is NA degraded in the synaptic cleft?

A

Removed by NA transporter proteins

1) removed by high affinity Na+ dependent transporter
2) remaining NA removed by low affinity neuronal mechanism

37
Q

In the presynaptic terminal, NA not packaged into vesicles is removed by… (2)

A

Monoamine oxidase

Catechol-O-methyltransferase