Autonomics Flashcards
(37 cards)
How many neurons are within the autonomic nervous system?
Two - one in cns and one in pns
What is an autonomic neuron called within the brain or spinal cord?
Preganglionic neuron
What is an autonomic neuron called in the pns?
Postganglionic neuron
What does the postganglionic neuron of the autonomic nervous system innervate?
Smooth muscle
Cardiac muscle
Glands
The autonomic nervous system is divided into three outflows. What determines the division?
Where the preganglionic fibers leave the central nervous system
Which segments are associated with the cranial outflow of the autonomic nervous system?
Oculomotor nerve (CN III) Facial nerve (CN VII) Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) Vagus nerve (CN X)
Which segments are associated with Thoracolumbar outflow of the autonomic nervous system?
Spinal nerves T1-L2/3
Which segments are associated with the sacral outflow of the autonomic nervous system?
S2-S4
Of which division of the autonomic nervous system is the cranial outflow?
Parasympathetic nervous system
Of which division of the autonomic nervous system is the Thoracolumbar outflow?
Sympathetic nervous system
Of which division of the autonomic nervous system is the sacral outflow?
Parasympathetic nervous system
Describe the two similarities between the cranial and sacral outflow.
- *Location of their ganglia
* *Anatomically and pharmacologically similar
With what is the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system primarily concerned?
Conserving and restoring energy
What is the function of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?
Expending energy for emergencies and sudden activity
What is the relative length of the parasympathetic pre- and post-ganglionic fibers?
Long preganglionic
Short postganglionic
What is the ganglia of the parasympathetic division residing in the wall of the gut?
Myenteric
(Auerbach’s)
And submucosal
(Meisner’s)
What is the relative length of sympathetic pre- and post ganglionic fibers?
Short preganglionic
Long postganglionic
What is the location of the sympathetic trunk?
Anterior to the vertebral extremity of each rib
Which fibers of the autonomic nervous system are cholinergic?
All preganglionic fibers
All postganglionic parasympathetic fibers
Define cholinergic
Neuron fibers that liberate acetylcholine
Which fibers of the autonomic nervous system are adrenergic?
All postganglionic sympathetic fibers
Define adrenergic
Neuron fibers that liberate norepinephrine
Which postganglionic sympathetic fibers are cholinergic?
Postganglionic sympathetic fibers to sweat glands
Which fibers are generally associated with the autonomic nervous system but are not part of the autonomic nervous system?
Afferent fibers