Functional Information Flow Flashcards
What is somatic information?
Information we are aware of and have control over
—> voluntary muscle control = somatic efferent
—> sensory information = somatic afferent
What is autonomic information?
Information we are not aware of and have no control over
—> Involuntary muscle control (efferent)
—> Sensory information we don’t know about (afferent)
What neurons make up the somatic efferent division?
Upper motor neuron (cell body in brain, axon in spinal cord)
Lower motor neuron (cell body in spinal cord, axon in spinal nerve)
Both axons in these neurons are myelinated
Effectors: skeletal muscle fibres
Process of somatic efferent communication
Brain —> Spinal Cord —> Spinal nerve —> Effector
Where is neuron 1’s cell body and axon in the autonomic efferent division?
cell body in brain, axon in brain or spinal cord (CNS)
Process of autosomic efferent communication
Brain —> spinal cord —> synapse —> effector
Sympathetic subdivision of autonomic nervous system
Prepares body for acute/stress response
Fight or flight system
Parasympathetic subdivision of autonomic nervous system
Prepares body for restful situations
Rest and digest system
Structural differences between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
S: Short axon (pre), close to CNS, long axon (post)
PS: Long axon (pre), distant from CNS, short axon (post)
Where are the sympathetic chain ganglia’s cell bodies (post ganglionic) and where do the axons extend?
Cell bodies in ganglion, long axons extend into body (unmyelinated)
Preganglionic neuron sympathetic pathway
Cell body location : T1 to L2
Synapse in : sympathetic chain
Length of fibres : relatively short
Neurotransmitter : ACh
Preganglionic neuron parasympathetic pathway
Cell body location : brain and spinal cord
Synapse in : parasympathetic ganglion or near effector
Length of fibres : relatively long
Neurotransmitter : ACh
Postganglionic neuron sympathetic pathway
Cell body location : Sympathetic chain
Length of fibres : relatively long
Neurotransmitter : noradrenaline
Postganglionic neuron parasympathetic pathway
Cell body location : parasympathetic ganglion or near effector
Length of fibres : relatively short
Neurotransmitter : ACh
Where is neuron 2’s cell body, axon, synapse and what is its neurotransmitter in the autonomic efferent division?
Neuron 2: cell body in brain or spinal cord (CNS), axon in PNS, synapse in autonomic ganglion, neurotransmitter = ACh , myelinated
