The Sympahtetic Nervous System Flashcards
ventral root is the
motor root
the dorsal root is the
sensory root
what does visceral mean
preganglionic motor neurones
describe how visceral motor neurones travel
In the thoracic segments of the spinal cord preganglionic (visceral) motor neurons are present in the lateral horn
These visceral motor neurons send axons out of the ventral roots and across white rami nerve to end on postganglionic neurons in the paravertebral sympathetic ganglia. Theses ganglia are connected together by the sympathetic trunk.
Preganglionic neurones may not synapse in the ganglion that they enter but may travel to rostral or caudal ganglia before they synapse.
where do the axons of the postganglionic sympathetic neurones project on to
- smooth muscle of the surrounding blood vessels mainly
What is the sympathetic chain
The sympathetic ganglia together with the sympathetic trunk are often called the sympathetic chain.
what spinal level does the sympathetic chain travel to and from
T1-L2
what does the thoracic sympathetic ganglia supply
The thoracic sympathetic ganglia supply vasoconstrictor nerves to arterioles these are blood vessels that supply oxygen to skeletal muscles in the chest, upper limbs and neck.
how many pairs of ganglia are there
25 pairs joined by nerve trunks
what is divergence
pre-ganglionic fibres branch out to postganglionic fibres at different levels of the chain
what is convergence
a postganglionic neuron can receive information from many pre-ganglioinic fibres
What are the three cervical ganglia
superior cervical ganglion
middle cervical ganglion
inferior cervical ganglion
what is the largest cervical ganglia
superior cervical ganglia
what do the cervical ganglia supply
supply sympathetic nerves to the head;
- innervation of the iris of the eye - main job is dilating the eye
- skin of the face
- the salivary glands.
where do the sympathetic post ganglionic fibres form nerve plexus around
Carotid arteries
- they enter the skull together with the carotids
what is the main job of the sympathetic plexus
dilating the eye
what does the sympathetic plexus trigger
Triggers
- blushing
- reduces the production of the salvia by the salivary gland and makes it more thicker and viscous
the sympathetic efferent system has a…
2 neurone chain between a spinal cord and smooth muscle
describe the preganglionic neurones and postganglionic neurones
- preganglionic neurones have small myelinated axons which re type alpha and beta axons
- postganglionic neurones have unmyelinated type C axons
what neurotransmitter does the pre-ganglionic neurone release
acetylcholine in the ganglion which activates the postganglionic neurone
what neurotransmitter does the post ganglionic neurone release
noradrenaline on to the arterials smooth muscle to make it contract via alpha 1 adrenoreceptors
what type of receptor are all autonomic ganglia (parasympathetic and sympathetic)
- they are cholinergic nicotinic type
what does smoking do to the sympathetic and parasympathetic system
- it releases nicotine into the bloodstream
- this stimulates both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system via the ganglionic nicotinic receptors
what do the postganglionic sympathetic neurones project on to
- project onto smooth muscle in arterioles producing vasoconstriction
what receptor causes smooth muscle contraction
alpha 1 adrenoreceptor
- this is a G protein coupled receptor
where is the sympathetic innervation of the heart
- via branches from the upper thoracic sympathetic chain which form a plexus around the aorta and atria
- the plexus is called the cardiac plexus
what is the sympathetic innervation of the lungs
- via a plexus around the large pulmonary arteries
- pulmonary plexus