Chapter 11: Autonomic Nervous System

Comparison of Somatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems (ANS):

 ANS is part of the nervous system that regulates smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and
certain glands
 The main control centers are the hypothalamus and brain stem (although the ANS usually
does operate without conscious control from the cerebral cortex, has to do with internal
organs you can’t control)

 The somatic nervous system includes both sensory and motor neurons.
o The sensory neurons convey input from receptors for the special senses (vision,
hearing, taste, smell, and equilibrium) and from receptors for somatic senses (pain,
temperature, touch, and proprioceptive (unconscious perception of movement),
sensations)

 The output (motor) part of the ANS has two main branches  The sympathetic and the
parasympathetic division.
 Most organs have dual innervation (they receive impulses from both sympathetic and
parasympathetic neurons).
 In general, nerve impulses from one division stimulate the organ to increase its activity
(excitation), and impulses from the other division decrease the organ’s activity (inhibition).

Note:
Stimulation by the autonomic motor neurons  excite or inhibit smooth muscle, cardiac
muscle, and glands
Stimulation by somatic motor neurons  always causes contraction of skeletal muscle

Structure of the Autonomic Nervous System:

 The sympathetic division of the ANS is also called the thoracolumbar division because the
outflow of sympathetic nerve impulses comes from the thoracic and lumbar segments of
the spinal cord.
o Cell bodies of sympathetic preganglionic neurons are in the 12 thoracic and the first
two lumbar segments of the spinal cord.
 o The preganglionic neurons synapse in ganglion close to the spinal cord, therefore
these axons are short and the post-ganglionic neurons are long
 A single sympathetic preganglionic axon may synapse with 20 or more postganglionic
neurons.
 Sympathetic responses can affect organs throughout the body almost simultaneously: “all
or none” response
 The parasympathetic division is also called the craniosacral division because the outflow of
parasympathetic nerve impulses comes from cranial nerve nuclei and sacral segments of
the spinal cord.
 Parasympathetic ganglia are called terminal ganglia and are located near or within
autonomic effectors.
o Axons of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons extend from the brain stem or
sacral spinal cord to a terminal ganglion in an innervated organ, therefore they are
longer than most of the axons of sympathetic preganglionic neurons.
o They are close to or in the walls of their autonomic effectors, so most
parasympathetic postganglionic axons are very short.

Functions of the Autonomic Nervous System:

 Neurotransmitters (NTs)  chemical substances released by neurons at synapses.
Autonomic neurons release neurotransmitters at synapses between neurons and at
synapses with autonomic effectors (smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands).
 The type of NT released (i.e. the type of fiber) and the effect of NT binding on its receptor
membrane determine whether the NT is excitatory or inhibitory
 ANS neurons that release acetylcholine include (1) all sympathetic and parasympathetic
preganglionic neurons, (2) all parasympathetic postganglionic neurons, and (3) a few
sympathetic postganglionic neurons.
 Most sympathetic postganglionic neurons release the neurotransmitter norepinephrine
(NE).
 The effects of NE are longer-lasting and more widespread than those of acetylcholine.
 Activation of the sympathetic division and release of hormones by the adrenal medullae
result in a series of physiological responses collectively called the fight-or- flight response.
 In contrast, the parasympathetic division enhances rest-and-digest activities.
Parasympathetic responses support body functions that conserve and restore body energy
during times of rest and recovery.

Don’t need to know: lacrimal, pancreas, ciliary muscle of eye, gallbladder and ducts, spleen,
uterus, sex organs