Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

what are the two divisions of the autonomic Nervous system?

Answer 1

parasympathetic nervous system

sympathetic nervous system

Question 2

True or false

the vagus nerve innervates the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 2

False

Question 3

where does the parasympathetic nervous system originate from? and where are the ganglia located?

Answer 3

the bilateral horn of the medulla and the sacral spinal cord
ganglia are located within the innervated tissue

Question 4

where does the sympathetic nervous system originate and where is the ganglia located?

Answer 4

originates in the lateral horn of the lumbar and thoracic spinal cord
ganglia are located in the paravertebral chain, close to the spinal cord.

Question 5

what did otto Lewis’ experiment consist of?

Answer 5

two frogs heart, one innervated by the vagus nerve

Question 6

what are the principal neurotransmitters in the ANS?

Answer 6

acetylcholine -PSNS

noradrenaline - SNS

Question 7

True or false

some specialised sympathetic post ganglionic neurons are cholinergic not noradrenergic

Answer 7

True

those that innervate the sweat glands and hair follicles.

Question 8

what is the acetylcholine synthesis equation?

Answer 8

acetyl CoA + Choline > Acetylcholine + Co enzyme A

enzyme - Choline acetyl transferase (CAT)

Question 9

what is the acetylcholine degradation equation?

Answer 9

acetylcholine > acetate + Choline

enzyme - acetylcholine esterase

Question 10

what are the therapeutic interventions of Ach receptors at autonomic and neuromuscular junction?

Answer 10

they both differ in structure. therefore some drugs actions selectively at autonomic ganglia, e.g trimethaphan (ganglion blocking drug) used to produced controlled hypotension during surgery.

Question 11

what is used to treat overactive bladder?

Answer 11

selective mAchR antagonist- tolterodine

Question 12

examples of AchE inhibitors

Answer 12

donepezil, used to treat Alzheimers disease

Question 13

what is SLUDGE?

Answer 13

salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, gastrointestinal upset and Emesis

caused by massive discharge of the PSNS

Question 14

what causes SLUDGE?

Answer 14

drug overdose, ingestion of magic mushroom, nerve gas (which covalently modifies AchE to irreversibly deactivate the enzyme and raise Ach levels.
over stimulation of PSNS .
treated with atropine, pralidoxine and other anticholinergic agents.

Question 15

what is used to treat Glaucoma and stimulate bladder emptying?

Answer 15

mAchR agonists- pilocarpine and bethanechol

Question 16

what’s is used to treat COPD and overactive bladder?

Answer 16

mAchR antagonists - titotropium and tolterodine (and oxybutyrin).

Question 17

what is a varicosity?

Answer 17

large blobs on the axonal network of post ganglionic SNS. they are evolved for generation and vesicular release of noradrenaline.

Question 18

what are the stages in the process of noradrenaline synthesis?

Answer 18

Tyrosine > DOPA (Tyrosine hydroxylase)
DOPA > Dopamine (DOPA decarboxylase)
Dopamine > Noradrenaline (dopamine beta hydroxylase)

Noradrenaline to adrenaline (phenylethanolamine N methyltransferase)

Question 19

what are the stages of termination of noradrenaline action?

Answer 19

Uptake 1- reabsorption into presynaptic terminal by Na+ dependent high affinity transporter

Uptake 2- NA not captured by Uptake one is taken up by lower affinity non neuronal mechanism.

Question 20

what enzymes metabolise NA not taken up into vesicles?

Answer 20

monoamine oxidase

catechol - o - methyltransferase

Question 21

what drugs are used to treat cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension?

Answer 21

alpha 1 adrenoceptor selective antagonists and beta 2 adrenoceptor selective antagonists such as:
doxazosin and atenolol.