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physiology, pharmacology and neuroscience > the nervous system > Flashcards

the nervous system Flashcards

1
Q

what is the sympathetic nervous system responsible for?

A

fight-or-flight response

-increase in HR, force of contraction and blood pressure

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2
Q

what is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

regulation of basal activity

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3
Q

what are the anatomical divisions of the brain stem and spinal cord?

A

medullary, cranial, thoracic, lumbar, sacral

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4
Q

which regions of the spinal cord are involved with the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?

A

sympathetic: thoracic and lumbar divisions
parasympathetic: medullary and sacral

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5
Q

what is the significance of the paravertebral column?

A

the location of chemical communication between the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system and the effector tissue

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6
Q

what is meant by pre-ganglionic neurone?

A

the first of 2 axonal projections between the spinal cord and the tissue, myelinated

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7
Q

what are the general rules for parasympathetic nerves?

A
  • long, myelinated pre-ganglionic fibres
  • short, unmyelinated post-ganglionic fibres
  • ganglia located within innervated tissues
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8
Q

what are the general rules for sympathetic nerves?

A
  • short, myelinated pre-ganglionic fibres
  • long, unmyelinated post-ganglionic fibres
  • ganglia located in the paravertebral chain close to the spinal cord
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9
Q

which neurotransmitter do all pre-ganglionic neurons use? what does this result in?

A

Acetylcholine

activation of post-ganglionic nicotinic ACh receptors

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10
Q

which neurotransmitter do parasympathetic post-ganglionic neurons use and how?

A

Acetylcholine

ACh acts on muscarinic ACh receptors in the effector tissue

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11
Q

which neurontransmitter is used by sympathetic post-ganglionic neurons? give exceptions to this

A

noradrenaline; interacts with a and B-adrenoceptors

neurons innervating sweat glands/hair follicles may be cholinergic

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12
Q

give examples of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmitters

A

ATP, NO, 5HT (serotonin), neuropeptides

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13
Q

how do sympathetic post-ganglionic neurones in the adrenal glands differ from other symp. post-ganglionic nerves?

A

they are differentiated to form neurosecretory chromaffin cells, which do not reach the effector tissue. instead they release adrenaline into the blood stream

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14
Q

what are the effects of parasympathetic release of ACh on the heart?

A
  • Bradycardia; ACh acts at M2 muscarinic receptors at SA node
  • reduced cardiac conduction velocity: acts at AV node
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15
Q

what are the effects of parasympathetic release of ACh on the smooth muscle?

A
  • bronchiolar contraction
  • increased intestinal motility/secretion
  • bladder contraction
  • penile erection
  • cililary muscles and iris sphincter contraction
  • all utilise M3-muscarinic receptors
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16
Q

what are the effects of sympathetic release of noradrenaline on the heart?

A
  • tachycardia: NA acts on B1-adrenoceptors in SA node

- positive inotropy: NA acts on ventricles

17
Q

what are the effects of sympathetic release of noradrenaline in the smooth muscle?

A
  • arteriolar contraction (a1 receptor) and relaxation (B2)
  • bronchiolar, intestinal and uterine relaxation
  • bladder sphincter contraction
  • radial muscle contraction
18
Q

where can we intervene with ANS activity?

A

at points of chemical communication

19
Q

what are the basic steps of neurotransmission?

A

1) uptake of precursors 2) synthesis of transmitter 3) vesicular storage of transmitter 4) degradation of transmitter 5) depolarisation by propagated action potential 6) depolarisation-dependent influx of Ca2+ 7) exocytotic release of transmitter 8) diffusion to post-synaptic membrane 9) interaction with post synaptic receptors 10) inactivation of transmitter 11) re-uptake of transmitter 12) interaction with pre-synaptic receptors

20
Q

what is the potential affect of manipulating cholinergic function?

A

potentially affects all ganglia and all parasympathetic post-ganglionic function

21
Q

how is acetylcholine synthesised?

A

acetyl CoA + choline -> acetylcholine + coenzyme A via choline acetyltransferase

22
Q

where is choline acetyltransferase found?

A

cholinergic terminals

23
Q

which enzyme is used to degrade ACh and where is it found?

A

acetylcholine esterase

found in cholinergic synaptic plates

24
Q

what is the basis for drugs which act selectively at autonomic ganglia? name one of these drugs

A

nAChRs at autonomic ganglia and the neuromuscular junction differ in structure
trimethapan

25
Q

give an example of a mAChR antagonist

A

tolterodine for overactive bladder

26
Q

what side effects is a non-selective mAChR agonist likely to cause?

A

bradycardia, low cardiac output, bronchoconstriction, GI tract peristalsis, sweating and salivation

27
Q

what is SLUDGE?

A

pathological effects indicative of massive parasympathetic discharge, caused by drug overdose, consumption of psilocybin mushrooms, organophosphorus insecticides or nerve gases. these cause chronic overstimulation of muscarinic acetycholine receptors

28
Q

what do nerve gases do?

A

covalently modify acetylcholine esterase

29
Q

give examples of muscarinic ACh receptor agonists and state what they are used for

A
  • pilocarpine for glaucoma

- bethanechol for stimulating bladder emptying

30
Q

give examples of mAChR antagonists

A
  • ipratoprium + tiotropium used for asthma and COPD

- hyosine for IBS and post op nausea

31
Q

what is meant by a ‘varicosity’?

A

a specialised site for Ca2+ dependent noradrenaline release at the sympathetic neuromuscular junction

32
Q

how is noradrenaline synthesised?

A

via a three step process from the precursor amino acid tyrosine

33
Q

which enzyme converts noradrenaline to adrenaline and where does this occur?

A

phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in the adrenal medulla

34
Q

outline the process of noradrenaline release

A

NA released via Ca2+ dependent exocytosis, it then diffuses across synaptic cleft and interacts with adrenoceptors in the post synaptic membrane to initiate signalling in the effector tissue
then NA is rapidly removed from the synaptic cleft by noradrenaline transporter proteins

35
Q

how is neurotrasmitter (NA) action terminated?

A
  • uptake 1: re-uptake into pre-synaptic terminal by a Na+ dependent, high affinity transporter. put back into vesicles
  • uptake 2: excess NA taken up by lower affinity, non-neuronal mechanism
36
Q

which enzymes metabolise NA?

A

monoamine oxidase and chatechol-O-methyltransferase

37
Q

why are B2-selective adrenoceptor agonists such as salbutamol used to treat asthma?

A

limits positive inotropy + chronotropy that would be present with non-selective B-adrenoceptor agonists

physiology, pharmacology and neuroscience (14 decks)

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