CHAPTER 9:

The Autonomic Nervous System

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS

Spinal and cranial nerves
The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic
Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic

receptors of the ANS
Autonomic regulation of internal organs

The CNS and the PNS

The CNS: brain & spinal cord

The PNS: nerves & ganglia outside
the CNS
12 pairs of cranial nerves (exit brain;
mostly from the brain stem)
31 pairs of spinal nerves (exit spinal
cord)
Most nerves are mixed, comprised
of both sensory & motor fibers, but
there are some exclusively sensory

FIGURE 8.27

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS

Spinal and cranial nerves
The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic
Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic

receptors of the ANS
Autonomic regulation of internal organs

The Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic (or visceral)

Although a lot of PNS
motor system contrasts with
components, its not strictly
the somatic motor system
PNS
Efferent neurons: autonomic
Regulation of cardiac muscle,
motor neurons vs. somatic motor
smooth muscle, and glands
neurons
Control of involuntary
Central control: frontal cortex &
visceral organs & blood
subcortical structures (somatic)
vs. hypothalamus, brain stem, &
vessels
spinal cord (autonomic). Note:
Somatic may control a muscle,
these lists are not exclusive
but autonomic could do the
blood vessels

FIGURE 9.1 (10th Ed.)

(sympathetic)

FIGURE 9.1 (10th Ed.)

Autonomic vs.
Somatic Motor Systems

Lecture Outline

Somatic Motor Neurons

Always cause stimulatory effect on muscle

Release acetylcholine, which binds to nAchR

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS

Spinal and cranial nerves
The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic
Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic

receptors of the ANS
Autonomic regulation of internal organs

Two Divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

Both divisions consist of:

preganglionic neurons (cell bodies in the CNS) and

postganglionic neurons (cell bodies in the PNS)

The divisions differ in:

1. the origin of preganglionic fibers

Sympathetic all middle

Parasympathetic top and bottom

2. the location of autonomic ganglia

Sympathetic prevertebral ganglia right next to spinal cord

Parasympathetic- terminal ganglia; farther away from spinal cord

3. The types of neurotransmitters used by postganglionic neurons

*Preganglionic of both release acetylcholine onto nAChR (all autonomic ganglia, all neuromuscular junctions, some
CNS pathways). NOTE: nAChR is always excitatory

Sympathetic norepi (some epi; rarely acetylcholine)

Parasympathetic acetylcholine
General functional differences:

fight or flight (sympathetic)

rest & digest (parasympathetic)

*some common functions

Sympathetic Division

Parasympathetic Division
- pupil constriction +
- salivation +
- airway constriction +
+ heart rate - digestion +

- intestinal/rectal +
movement

From Purves et al., Neuroscience, 3rd Ed.

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS

Spinal and cranial nerves
The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic
Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic

receptors of the ANS
Autonomic regulation of internal organs

The Sympathetic Division

A sympathetic chain of ganglia

(paravertebral ganglia) line either side
of the spinal cord
Preganglionic axons split from the
spinal nerves via the white rami,
wherein they enter the paravertebral
ganglia
These preganglionic fibers branch
Some preganglionic fibers synapse
with postganglionic neurons within the
sympathetic chain of ganglia; these
postganglionic axons leave via the
gray rami & rejoin the spinal nerves

Some preganglionic fibers simply

pass through the sympathetic
chain of ganglia, forming
splanchnic nerves, and synapse
with postganglionic neurons
within collateral (prevertebral)
ganglia. These postganglionic
axons then control trunk organs
Some preganglionic fibers also
innervate the adrenal medulla,
causing it to secrete Epi (and
Norepi) into the blood
Mass activation: the
sympathetic system is typically
activated as a single unit

Sympathetic Chain of Ganglia

FIGURE 9.2

Sympathetic Motor Neurons

FIGURE 9.3

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS

Spinal and cranial nerves
The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic
Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic

receptors of the ANS
Autonomic regulation of internal organs

The Parasympathetic Division

Parasympathetic preganglionic
fibers originate in the:

Brain stem

midbrain
medulla
pons

sacral levels of the spinal cord

Preganglionic fibers synapse

with postganglionic fibers in
terminal ganglia which lie
close to or within target organs

Most parasympathetic
preganglionic fibers are not
bundled within spinal nerves
--> cutaneous effectors &
blood vessels associated
with skeletal muscle are not
parasympatheticallyinnervated
Four cranial nerve pairs
(including the vagus) carry
parasympathetic
preganglionic fibers

The Vagus Nerves

The vagus nerves are the

primary route of
parasympathetic innervation

FIGURE 9.6

Heart
Lungs
Esophagus
Stomach
Pancreas
Liver
Intestines

These preganglionic fibers

originate in the medulla
Multiple branches synapse
with postganglionic cells at
terminal ganglia within the
target tissues

terminal ganglia in head (parasympathetic division)

*
*

*collateral, or prevertebral, ganglia

(sympathetic division)

FIGURE 9.5

Recapping some terminology

ANS motor neurons: direction of information flow

relative to peripheral ganglia

ANS ganglia: anatomical location relative to spinal

cord and/or effector organs

Preganglionic neuron
Postganglionic neuron

Paravertebral ganglia - sympathetic

Prevertebral (a.k.a. collateral) ganglia - sympathetic
Terminal ganglia - parasympathetic

SAME DAVE

SAME = Sensory - Afferent - Motor - Efferent

DAVE = Dorsal - Afferent - Ventral - Efferent

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS

Spinal and cranial nerves
The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic
Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic

receptors of the ANS
Autonomic regulation of internal organs

ANS Function: Neurotransmitters

Preganglionic fibers of both divisions are cholinergic

Divisional functions are often antagonistic
Target organs display opposing behaviors due to release of different
neurotransmitters
Sympathetic: fight or flight
Most [sympathetic] postganglionic fibers are adrenergic
Some postganglionic fibers are cholinergic (those to blood vessels of
skeletal muscles and those to sweat glands)
Norepi- used more as communicative chemical between CNS and PNS
Epi used more as blood borne hormone and utilized during adrenaline
rush
Parasympathetic: rest & digest
Most postganglionic fibers are cholinergic

FIGURE 9.7

Preganglionic fiber
(sympathetic and
parasympathetic) --<
nAChR
Parasympathetic
postganglionic fiber --<
mAChR
*Sympathetic
postganglionic fiber --<
1-, 2-, 1-, 2- adrenergic
receptors
*Some postganglionic
sympathetic fibers that run
with spinal nerves are
cholinergic; mAChR

FIGURE 9.9

Sympathetic Adrenergic
Innervation

Excitatory in some tissues, inhibitory in others; dependent on

receptor type:
1, 2, 1, 2
Excitatory (EPSP, contraction/constriction, or vesicle release):
(1) Vasoconstriction in viscera (organs of digestion and/or any
organs in the abdominal and thoracic cavities), i.e. reduce blood
flow
(1) Increase cardiac output/heart rate/contractility (flex heart
muscles)
Inhibitory (IPSP or relaxation/dilation):
(2) Vasodilation in skin (Arrector pili [skin muscle] and blood
vessels); Relaxation of arterioles to muscles (increase blood flow);
relax digestive muscles (fuck you time to fight, not eat)
(2; sometimes mAChR) Relaxation of bronchioles of the lungs

FIGURE 9.10

Sympathetic Adrenergic
Innervation

All adrenergic receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)

G + GDP --> binds GTP --> G + G

Modulation of enzyme activity ( --> changes in ion channel permeability) downstream: kinases
get turned on and thus proteins get phosphorylated by aforementioned kinases
Mechanisms of action

1-, 2-receptor activation --> increases [cAMP]i

--> smooth muscle relaxation (digestive tract dont use energy to digest food; bronchioles:
open to allow more oxygen flow)

--> increased heart contraction

Mechanism:
1. Norepinephrine binds to receptor
2. G-protein subunits dissociate
3. Adenylate cyclase is activated

A. ATP binds to cyclic AMP

B. cAMP activates unactivated protein kinases

4. Activated protein kinase phosphorylates other proteins and opens ion channel (Ca2+
enters)

1 -receptor activation --> increases [Ca2+]i -->

smooth muscle contraction -->

vasoconstriction at certain viscera

2 -receptor activation --> complicated

cAMP: -adrenergic receptors

alpha-adrenergic receptor
activated
G protein dissociates
Phospholipase C activated
IP3 increases
Internal Ca2+ increases after being
released from endoplasmic
reticulum
Activates Ca/Calmodulin complex

Activates other kinases

Downstream effects:
Glycogen
Glucose-1-phosphate
Glucose-6-phosphate
Free glucose

cAMP: -adrenergic receptors

Beta-adrenergic receptor
activated
G protein dissociates
Adenylate cyclase activated

cAMPi increases
Activates protein kinase A
Phosphorylates other proteins

Downstream effects:
Glycogen
Glucose-1-phosphate
Glucose-6-phosphate
Free glucose

G protein-coupled receptors

From Purves et al., Neuroscience, 3rd Ed.

FIGURE 6.31

-adrenergic signaling

FIGURE 7.31

Parasympathetic Cholinergic
Innervation

Postganglionic parasympathetic fibers release ACh

Effects at target tissues can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on mAChR
subtype (all GPCRs)
M3, M5 activation, EPSP-->
opening of Ca channels and closing of K+ channels -->
increased [Ca]i and decreased [K+]i -->
Depolarization -->
EPSP; Contraction of smooth muscles in digestive track; or increased
gland secretions
M2 activation. IPSP -->
Via vagus, indirectly opens K+ channels -->
Hyperpolarization of heart cells -->
IPSP -->
Decreased heart rate

Nicotinic vs. muscarinic receptors

FIGURE 9.11

Vagal innervation of
heart via M2-receptors

FIGURE 7.27

Parasympathetic cholinergic innervation via vagus --> M2-type

muscarinic receptors --> indirectly opens K+ channels -->
hyperpolarization of heart muscle cells --> slowing of heart rate

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS

Spinal and cranial nerves
The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic
Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic

receptors of the ANS
Autonomic regulation of internal organs

Autonomic innervation of organs

Most visceral organs are dually-innervated

Some organs are only sympathetically-innervated

Antagonistic (opposites; most common)

Complementary (similar effects)
Cooperative (synergistic effects)
Adrenal medulla
Arrector pili muscles (skin)
Sweat glands (skin)
Most blood vessels

Central control of autonomic systems

Control of ANS by the CNS

Cortex

Limbic system &

hypothalamus
Brain stem reticular
formation: respiratory
centers
Medulla oblongata: control
centers for cardiovascular,
digestive, urinary, &
reproductive systems

From Purves et al., Neuroscience, 3rd Ed.

Smooth muscle, cardiac

muscle, glands