Week 3 - Autonomic nervous system + CV control during exercise Flashcards
Two divisions of Autonomic Nervous system
1) Sympathetic NS (fight or flight)
2) Parasympathetic NS (rest and digest)
What are the two neurons that autonomic pathways consist of?
preganglionic neuron and postganglionic neuron - they connect the CNS and the effector via a ganglion
Ganglia
collection of cell bodies that sit outside the spinal cord
Describe the sympathetic neuron pathway and parasympathetic neuron pathway.
Sympathetic
- Neurons travel from the brainstem and exit at certain levels of the spinal cord
- T1-T5 lead to the heart (and upper body blood vessels) and T6 and below lead to lower body blood vessels where they vasoconstrict/vasodilate and maintain bp.
Parasympathetic
- Neurons travel down the vagal nerve from the brain stem to the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract.
- Also leave from S2-S4 to bladder and pelvic organs
Describe the cell body location and neurotransmitters released from the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons of the PSN and SNS.
Parasympathetic
- Cell body of preganglionic neurons is located in the brain stem (medulla oblongata) and S2-S4 - cranial and sacral regions.
- Pre and postganglionic neurons release acetylcholine (cholinergic)
Sympathetic
- Cell body of preganglionic neurons located in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the brain.
- Preganglionic neurons release ACh.
- Postganglionic neurons release norepinephrine (adrenergic) which acts on effector organs - smooth muscles, organs, heart.
- One key difference is that postganglionic neurons release ACh for sweat glands.
- Also note T10-L1: preganglionic neuron releases ACh and adrenal medulla then releases 80% E and 20% NE into circulation.
Describe the neuro-anatomical control of the heart.
PNS: parasympathetic fibers come from neurons in the brainstem (medulla oblongata) and they make up the vagus nerve. This nerve leaves the brainstem and the fibers make contact with the SA and AV node. When they stimulate these nerve endings they stimulate ACh which reduces the activity of SA and AV nodes which reduces HR.
SNS: sympathetic fibers arise from neurons located in the spinal cord (T1-T5), the ending of these fibers release NE which acts on beta-1 adrenergic receptors to stimulate SA and AV node to increase HR.
Any neuron/fiber releasing acetylcholine is known as …
cholinergic
Any neuron/fiber secreting norepinephrine is known as …
adrenergic
What is the difference between the preganglionic and postganglionic axon lengths of parasympathetic neurons and sympathetic neurons?
Parasympathetic neurons: axons are long for the preganglionic and they synapse with the postganglionic really close to the effector organ.
Sympathetic neurons: preganglionic is short as the synpase between the ganglia are located close to the spinal cord and the postganglionic neuron is long.
Where is the ganglia located in the PNS and SNS?
PSN: near or in target organ
SNS: in a chain alongside throaco-lumbar spinal region
Role of sympathetic NS during exercise
Regulates blood flow to the working muscles and increase cardiac output.
Explain the autonomic NS control of heart rate at the onset of exercise.
Initial increase in heart rate is due to parasympathetic withdrawal (up to 100bpm)
Further increases are due to increased sympathetic NS outflow.
What is SV the difference between?
End-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume
3 factors that regulate stroke volume
1) End-diastolic volume (EDV)
2) Average aortic blood pressure (during systole)
3) Strength of the ventricular contraction (contractility)
End-diastolic volume
volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of diastole (“preload”) - dependent on venous return
Average aortic blood pressure
Pressure the heart must pump against to eject blood during systole (“afterload”)
What is the strength of the ventricular contraction enhanced by?
- Circulating E and NE
- Direct sympathetic stimulation of the heart
Frank-Starling mechanism
greater EDV (end-diastolic volume) results in a more forceful contraction due to stretch of ventricles (results in greater SV) - dependent on venous return!
What 3 factors increase venous return?
- Venoconstriction (via SNS)
- Skeletal muscle pump: skeletal muscle contractions force blood towards the heart and one-way valves in veins prevent backflow of blood
- Respiratory pump: changes in thoracic pressure pull blood toward the heart.
Cardiac output
the amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute
Equation - heart rate x stroke volume
How does parasympathetic NS and sympathetic NS regulate cardiac output?
PNS reduces cardiac output by reducing HR (cardiac rate)
SNS stimulates cardiac output by increasing HR (cardiac rate) and stroke volume through the increase in contraction strength.
Systolic blood pressure
pressure generated during ventricular contraction