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Drugs: Molecules To Man > ANS > Flashcards

ANS Flashcards

1
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

A

A division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary bodily functions

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2
Q

What are the two main divisions of the ANS?

A
  • Sympathetic nervous system
  • Parasympathetic nervous system
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3
Q

What is the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system?

A

To prepare the body for ‘fight or flight’ response

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4
Q

What is the primary function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

To promote ‘rest and digest’ activities

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5
Q

What physiological effects are associated with the parasympathetic nervous system?

A
  • Constricted pupils
  • Increased salivation
  • Slow heart rate
  • Decreased force of contraction of heart
  • Decreased blood pressure
  • Constricted bronchial smooth muscle
  • Stimulated GI tract activity
  • Decreased blood flow to skeletal muscle
  • Increased blood flow to skin
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6
Q

What neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the sympathetic nervous system?

A

Noradrenaline/adrenaline

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7
Q

What neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Acetylcholine

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8
Q

What is the role of acetylcholine in salivary glands?

A

It signals via muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

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9
Q

Fill in the blank: The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the ______ response.

A

fight or flight

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10
Q

Fill in the blank: The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the ______ activities.

A

rest and digest

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11
Q

What is the difference in the length of pre-ganglionic neurons between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems?

A
  • Sympathetic: Short
  • Parasympathetic: Long
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12
Q

Where are the ganglia located in the sympathetic nervous system?

A

Paravertebral (mainly)

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13
Q

Where are the ganglia located in the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Close to the target organ

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14
Q

What are catecholamines?

A
  • Adrenaline
  • Noradrenaline
  • Epinephrine
  • Norepinephrine
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15
Q

What is the role of the adrenal medulla in the sympathetic nervous system?

A

It secretes catecholamines into the bloodstream

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16
Q

True or False: The sympathetic nervous system decreases blood pressure.

A

False

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17
Q

True or False: The parasympathetic nervous system increases GI tract activity.

18
Q

What is the effect of Gq signaling in the autonomic nervous system?

A

Vasoconstriction (increase BP), contraction of visceral smooth muscle, relax GI tract

19
Q

What is the effect of Gi signaling in the autonomic nervous system?

A

Decreased heart rate, decreased insulin release

20
Q

What are the effects of β1 adrenoceptors?

A

Associated with the Gs G protein

  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased force of contraction
  • Release of renin
21
Q

What are the effects of β2 adrenoceptors?

A

Associated with the Gs G protein

  • Vasodilation (decrease BP)
  • Bronchodilation
  • Muscle tremor
  • Relax visceral smooth muscle
  • Glycogenolysis
22
Q

What are the effects of α1 adrenoceptors?

A

Associated with Gq G protein

  • Vasoconstriction (increase BP)
  • Contraction of visceral smooth muscle
  • Relax GI tract
23
Q

What is the primary function of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)?

A

Biosynthesis of acetylcholine

24
Q

What is the first step in the biosynthesis of adrenaline?

A

Conversion of tyrosine to L-DOPA

25
What are the three key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of noradrenaline?
* Tyrosine hydroxylase * DOPA decarboxylase * Dopamine β-hydroxylase
26
Where are the adrenal glands?
Located on top of each kidney Secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline
27
What are afferent neurons?
Sensory neurons that carry information from the body to the central nervous system
28
What is catechol and catecholamine?
Catechol = chemical structure with benzene ring with 2 adjacent hydroxyl groups, forming the backbone of catecholamines Catecholamine = group of neurotransmitters and hormones, including dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline, derived from tyrosine and contains catechol group
29
What is the enteric nervous system?
A division of the ANS located in the gastrointestinal tract, capable of regulating digestion independently of the CNS
30
What is a monoamine?
Class of neurotransmitters that includes catecholamines, serotonin, histamine and melatonin
31
What are prevertebral ganglia?
Sympathetic ganglia located near major abdominal arteries, innervating abdominal and pelvic organs
32
Effects of the SNS
- dilated pupils - decreased salivation - increased HR (tachycardia) - increased force of contraction - relaxed bronchial smooth muscle (allows more O2) - inhibited GI tract activity - increased blood flow to skeletal muscle - decreased blood flow to skin - increased blood pressure - sweating
33
Organisation of the SNS
CNS connected to ganglion cells (which have ACh nicotinic receptors) by short preganglionic neurons that release ACh Postganglionic neurons are long and release noradrenaline and are connected to cells which have noradrenaline/adrenoreceptors
34
Difference between Adrenaline and noradrenaline
Also known as epinephrine and norepinephrine Adrenaline has an extra methyl group Noradrenaline has an amine group
35
Structure of the adrenal medulla
- long preganglionic neurons from the spinal cord attach to the adrenal medulla - adrenal medulla contains ACh nicotinic receptors and chromaffin cell (secretes into circulation instead of synapse) - Adrenaline and noradrenaline is released into the circulation in a ratio of 4:1 (A:N)
36
Biosynthesis of Acetylcholine
Acetyl coenzyme A with a Choline group is turned into ACh ACh has a permanent positive charge on the N (key to binding receptors) and a ester linkage between the choline and acetyl group (this bond is broken by an enzyme to switch off signalling) NOT a monoamine
37
Describe ganglionic transmission
1. ACh is released from vesicles in the preganglionic neuron into the synapse 2. ACh activates nicotinic ACh receptors on the postganglionic neuron = trigger an action potential 3. Signal is turned off by AChE which is present in the synapse 4. It breaks down ACh into acetate and choline 5. Choline is taken up by a transporter in the preganglionic neuron and is used to make more ACh
38
Biosynthesis of adrenaline
39
Describe noradrenergic transmission
1. Tyrosine enters via aromatic amino acid transporter (AAAT) 2. Noradrenaline is packaged into vesicles by vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) 3. Noradrenaline is released from vesicles into the synapse to bind to post-synaptic adrenoreceptors 4. Noradrenaline is either recycled or metabolised 5. This is slow transmission as it relies on G-protein coupled receptors MAO - monoamine oxidase = metabolises noradrenaline COMT - catechol-O-methyl transferase = metabolises noradrenaline NET and Uptake 2 = recycle and package noradrenaline
40
What are the effects of α2 adrenoceptors?
Associated with Gi G protein * Decreased transmitter release * Decreased insulin release
41
Muscarinic signalling systems
Located in the glands (heart and smooth muscle) - M1 = Gq pathway - M2 = Gi pathway —> decreases heart rate - M3 = Gq —> smooth muscle contraction Found in the CNS - M4 = Gi pathway - M5 = Gq pathway
42
Sympathetic vs parasympathetic NS
**Sympathetic** - Noradrenaline/adrenaline and ACh in salivary glands - Short pre-ganglionic neuron - Long post-ganglionic neuron - Ganglia located paravertebral - Flight, fright or fight response **Parasympathetic** - ACh - Long pre-ganglionic neuron - Short post-ganglionic neuron - Ganglia located close to target - Rest and digest

Drugs: Molecules To Man (13 decks)

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