The autonomic nervous

system

by Jingying T.A.
department of Physiology
review:

 neuron
 neuronal circuit
 sensory receptors, and sensory ascending tracts
 motor neuron, motor regulation
 motor centers
What we are to learn in this class:

 autonomic nervous system

 comparing efferent nerve of ANS to skeletal
motor nerve
 adrenal glands
 one of the non-specific reflex: “fight or flight
”response
 Autonomic nervous system

The portion of the nervous system that controls

most visceral functions of the body is called the
autonomic nervous system.
Visceral functions:
 Arterial pressure

 Gastrointestinal motility

 Gastrointestinal secretion

 Urinary bladder emptying

 Sweating

 Body temperature

Etc.
Controlling fashion:

rapidly and intensely

 1 organization of the autonomic
nervous system

centers in:
spinal cord
brain stem
hypothalamus

visceral reflexes:
 organ
 autonomic
ganglia
 brain stem
/hypothalamus
 organ
ANS:
afferent
efferent

sympathetic NS
parasympathetic NS

Structurally characte
red by
ganglia
Peripheral
portion of the
SNS
Autonomic ganglia:

 Para-vertebral g. and pre-vertebral g.

 Para-organ g. (peripheral)
Comparing the structure of efferent n.
between ANS and non-ANS
Skeletal motor n

Autonomic
n
Comparing sympathetic n. to skeletal motor n.

1 two neuron levels:

Pre-ganglionic & post-
ganglionic
2 neuron location
 Comparing sympathetic n. to skeletal motor n.
3 derivation: segmental
4 passing way
5 effectors:
smooth m.
cardiac m.
glands
6 regulation
7 neuro-transmitters
Ach, NE, and neuropeptide
 2 autonomic nervous system and
their effectors
Sympathetic neurons:
 derive from T1 to L3;

 pre-ganglionic neurons enter the para-verta

bral ganglia;
 post-ganglionic neurons have their axons mi
xed in the spinal nerves or distributed in the
blood walls, to their targets.
parasympathetic neurons:
 derive: from nuclei in brain stem , or sacral spi
nal cord.
 pre-ganglionic axons enter into cranial nerves
(vagus n.) or pelvic splanchnic nerves.
 tagets:

vagus: heart, airway, gastro-intestine (to tra

nsverse colon) ;
pelvic n: the rest of the gut, and bladder.
 ganglia: near the controlled organ.
 3 autonomic transmitters and
receptors

Ganglionic transmission: ACh

post-ganglionic neuron: n-receptors (nicotine)

Post-ganglionic neuron of sympathetic n.: NE

receptors:
α-:
β-: inhibit smooth m. but enhance the cardiac contr
action.
Post-ganglionic neuron of parasympathetic n: ACh
Receptors: M-receptors (muscarinic)

n less widely distributed and

little effect on the vasculature or metabolism.
Sympathetic effect sympathetic effects parasympathetic
(αreceptors) (βreceptors) effects
Vasoconstriction vasodilatation
increased heart rate decrease HR
increased heart contraction
Sphincter contraction intestinal relaxation intestinal contraction
bronchodilatation bronchoconstriction
uterine relaxation
Sphincter contraction bladder relaxation bladder contraction
Pupillary dilatation pupillary constriction
lens axxommodation
metabolic stimulation

Some important autonomic effects

4 adrenal meddulla
adrenal meddulla is the central part of the adr
enal glands.

 is regulated by preganglionic sympathetic n.

 n- cholinergic receptors

 effect: secretion of catecholamines

(including noradrenaline & adrenaline)
nonadrenaline is potent α- adrenoceptor agoni
st;
adrenaline is potent to both α- and β-adrenoce
ptors.

so, resulted in different cardiovascular effects.

α-effect: bp hr
β-effect: hr bp
 5 autonomic reflexes,
“fight or flight”

autonomic reflexes:
 blood pressure control

 regulation of gut and bladder motility

 regulation of digestive secretion

non specific reflex : fight or flight (anxiety or rage)

to prepare the body for vigorous exercise and involves

: a generalized increase in sympathetic n activity
secretion of adrenal catecholamines
 Cardiovascular effects predominate, with increases i
n heart rate, blood pressure and skeletal muscle blo
od flow.
 Pallor results from cutaneous vasoconstriction.
 Metabolism is stimulated and sweating increases bu
t gastrointestinal blood flow and motility are reduce
d.
 nausea is produced.
 Alivary secretion is inhibited, making the mouth dry
and sticky,
 and there may be a fine, skeletal muscle tremor.