Week 2: Lesions Understanding

Question 1

Function of autonomic nervous system

Answer 1

• Regulate homeostasis

- Circulation, respiration, digestion, metabolism, secretions, body temp, reproduction

Question 2

Where do autonomic afferents originate from?

Answer 2

Viscera

Question 3

Where do autonomic efferents go?

Answer 3

Motor to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, or glands

Question 4

What kind of efferents are there in the autonomic system?

Answer 4

• Sympathetic

- Parasympathetic

Question 5

Types of receptors

Answer 5

• Mechanoreceptors
• Chemoreceptors
• Nociceptors
• Thermoreceptors

Question 6

Mechanoreceptors

Answer 6

• Pressure sensors

- Stretch sensors

Question 7

Pressure sensors

Answer 7

• Baroreceptors (in aorta and carotid sinus)

- Lungs

Question 8

Stretch sensors

Answer 8

Veins, bladder, intestins

Question 9

Chemoreceptors

Answer 9

Sensitive to chemical concentration

Question 10

Types of chemoreceptors

Answer 10

• Carotid and aortic bodies
• Medulla
• Hypothalamus
• Taste buds
• Olfactory bulbs

Question 11

Carotid and aortic bodies

Answer 11

Sense oxygen levels

Question 12

Medulla

Answer 12

Sense hydrogen ion levels and CO2 to help w/ respiration

Question 13

Hypothalamus

Answer 13

Response to blood glucose and electrolyte concentration

Question 14

Nociceptors

Answer 14

• Sense damage or threat of damage

- Found in viscera and arterial walls

Question 15

Thermoreceptors

Answer 15

• Temperature

Question 16

Thermoreceptors in hypothalamus

Answer 16

Blood temperature

Question 17

Cutaneous thermoreceptors

Answer 17

External temperature changes

Question 18

Routes for afferent pathways

Answer 18

• Spinal cord via dorsal roots

- Brainstem via cranial nerves

Question 19

Where do the cranial nerves send viscceral info?

Answer 19

To the solitary nucleus (main visceral sensory nucleus)

Question 20

Where does the solitary nucleus send info?

Answer 20

• Pons, medulla (for visceral control)

- Hypothalamus, thalamus, and limbic systems (modulatory control)

Question 21

What do visceral afferents synapse with?

Answer 21

• Visceral efferents (autonomic reflexes)

- Neurons that ascend to brainstem, hypothalamus, and thalamus

Question 22

Visceral nociceptive afferents also connect to what?

Answer 22

• Somatosensory nociceptive tract neurons (referred pain)

- Somatic efferents (muscle guarding)