Autonomic Nervous System I

Question 1

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) definitions

Answer 1

• Involuntary system controlling visceral function

- component of the peripheral nervous system

Question 2

ANS components

Answer 2

• sympathetic
• parasympathetic
• enteric

Question 3

Characteristics of sympathetic nervous system

Answer 3

• “fight or flight”
• pre-ganglionic neurons originate T1-L3
• short pre-ganglionic neurons, long post-ganglionic neurons

Question 4

Sympathetic neurotransmitters

Answer 4

• pre-ganglionic: ACh/N

- effector: NE, alpha and beta

Question 5

Characteristics of parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 5

• “rest and digest”
• pre-ganglionic neurons originate CN (3, 7, 9, 10) and S2-S4
• long pre-ganglionic neurons, short post-ganglionic neurons

Question 6

Parasympathetic neurotransmitters

Answer 6

• pre-ganglionic: ACh/N

- effector: ACh/M

Question 7

Characteristics of somatic nervous system

Answer 7

• voluntary
• single motorneuron and skeletal muscle fiber
• cell bodies in CNS
• axons synapse directly on skeletal muscle

Question 8

Somatic neurotransmitters

Answer 8

• pre-synaptic: ACh

- motor endplate: nicotinic cholinergic

Question 9

Characteristics of autonomic nervous system

Answer 9

• involuntary system primarily controlling visceral organs
• two neurons; pre-ganglionic and post-ganglionic
• pre-ganglionic axons synapse on post-ganglionic neurons which synapse on visceral effector organs

Question 10

Autonomic neurotransmitters

Answer 10

• pre-ganglionic: ACh

- post-ganglionic: ACh, NE, or neuropeptides

Question 11

Function of enteric nervous system

Answer 11

Regulate secretion, digestion, blood flow, vomiting, etc. in GI tract