Autonomic Nervous

System

Prepared by:
Dr. Radwa Ali Mehanna
Lecturer of physiology
 ILOs
By the end of this lecture the students will be able
to:
Identify the general organization of the autonomic
nervous system. The basic characteristics of the
sympathetic and parasympathetic function.
Determine the unit structure and unit function of
nervous system.
Compare the functions of the ANS with the
somatic nervous system.
Identify the types and functions of autonomic
ganglia
 ILOs cont…
Describe the functions of the parasympathetic
nervous system in different parts of the body.
Describe the effect of mass stimulation of the
sympathetic nervous system.
Recognize the type of chemical transmitters ,
their formation and site of release.
Identify chemical transmission at autonomic
junctions
Describe different autonomic receptors
according to their types and location.
Describe the higher control of the A.N.S
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Autonomic Nervous
System
Body functions are either voluntary or
involuntary.
The voluntary functions are controlled by a
part of the nervous system called the
somatic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system is a part of
the nervous system that controls the
involuntary functions
 Unit structure
Neuron
Unit Function of Nervous
System
Reflex action:
Definition: it is unavoidable, inborn,
beneficial response to a stimulus

Components of reflex action:

Reflex Arc:
Receptor Afferent neuron center
efferent neuron effector organ
Receptor
A specialized structure sensitive to
changes inside or outside the body

It converts different forms of energy

into nerve impulses
Afferent nerve
It carries nerve impulses from receptor to the CNS

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Center
It is present inside the CNS
Efferent neuron
Carries the impulses from center to the
effector organ
Types of Reflex action
Somatic reflex action
Autonomic reflex action
Somatic Reflex Withdrawal
reflex
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Somatic Reflex Stretch
reflex
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Autonomic Reflex
Autonomic Reflex
Micturition reflex
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Difference between somatic and
Autonomic reflex arc
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Autonomic ganglion

Definition:
it is a collection of cell bodies
outside the CNS
 Synapse
Definition:
It is the site of contact between 2 neurons
i.e. the site of contact between the axon
terminals of one neuron and cell body or
dendrites of another neuron. ( there is no
cytoplasmic continuity between neurons)
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 Outflow of Autonomic
Nervous System

Sympathetic N.S. Parasympathetic N.S.

Thoraco –lumber Cranio – sacral

T1 to L3 III –VII- IX- X
S2 to S5
Autonomic Ganglia

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Functions ● Fifth level

Definition:
it is a collection of cell bodies
outside the CNS

Types:
Lateral Sympathetic chain
Collateral Celiac, superior
mesenteric, inferior mesenteric
Terminal
Types of autonomic
Ganglia
Lateral collateral terminal
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Functions of autonomic
ganglia
1- Distributing centers Click to edit Master text styles
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2- Site of relay ● Third level

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3- Chemical transmitter ● Fifth level

Sympathetic Nervous
System

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Functions of sympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic tone
under the basal condition, the
sympathetic system is
continuously active & discharge
impulses to the innervated
organs.
The basal rate of activity of
sympathetic system is known as
Sympathetic tone.
Example: tonic discharge to
arterioles.
Alarm or stress response
(mass discharge)
In emergency the sympathetic
system
a) prepares the body for
activity.
b) its capacity and indurance
for performing severe
muscular efforts.
c) there is mass discharge
i.e. large portion discharge
at the same time.
 Sympathetic Supply
Head and Neck
Organ Function

Eye Dilator pupillae muscle Motor- dilation

Superior and inferior tarsal Motor- retraction
muscles
Muller’s Muscle Motor- protrusion
Lacrimal gland VC- atrophic
Salivary Glands VC- Trophic
Skin Piloerector muscle Motor- erection
Sweat glands secretion
Cutaneous blood vessels VC
 Sympathetic Supply
Thoracic viscera

Organ Function

Heart Excitation
Vasodilator to coronaries

Lungs Bronchodilation
Slight VC
Inhibition of bronchial glands secretion
Sympathetic Supply
Abdominal viscera

Organ Function

Blood vessels VC
Smooth musc. Inhibitory
Sphincters Motor
Liver Glycogenolytic

Gall bladder Retention of bile

Spleen Motor to splenic capsule

Adrenal medulla secretary

Sympathetic SupplyPelvis
Organ Function

Colon Retention of faeces

Urinary Retention of urine
bladder
Blood VC
vessels
Male sex Motor ejaculation of semen
organs
uterus variable
 limbs,thoracic and abdominal parities
Sympathetic Supply
Organ Function
Upper limbs -Blood vessels VC
-Sweat glands Secretary
-Erector pilae muscle Motor
Lower limb -Blood vessels of skeletal muscles
VD
-Increase muscle glycogenolysis

Thoracic ,
abdominal
parities
 Orbilli Phenomenon
Better contraction, delayed fatigue and early
recovery of skeletal muscle after fatigue.
Due to:
1- glycogenolysis
2- sensitivity of MEP to Ach
3- O2 consumption and heat production
4- vasodilatation of their Bvs
 Parasympathetic
Nervous system
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 Functions of
Parasympathetic
Nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system
prepares the body for recovery & repair .
Its activity continues and even increase
During sleep & rest.
 oculomotor nerve
Parasymathetic nervous
system
Nucleus organ Function

Edinger- Sphincter Motor Miosis

Westphal pupillae M.

Ciliary muscle Motor

Accommodatio
n to near vision
 Facial nerve
Parasymathetic nervous
Nucleus organ Function
system
Superior Submaxillary , Secretory + VD
salivatory sublingual glands +
nucleus ant 2/3 of tongue

Lacrimal gland

Nasopharyngeal
glands

Soft palate
 glossopharyngeal nerve
Parasymathetic nervous
system
Nucleus organ Function
Inferior Parotid gland Secretory+VD
salivatory
nucleus
Post 1/3 of VD
tongue
 Vagus nerve
Parasymathetic nervous
systemorgan Function
Nucleus

Dorsal Heart Inhibition of all properties

motor VC of coronary vessels
nucleus
Lungs Bronchoconstriction
Secretory

GIT Motor to SM+ Inhibitory to

sphincters
Secretion of gastric juice
Secretion of pancreatic juice
Secretion of insulin
 Sacral
Parasymathetic nervous
system
Nucleus organ Function

S2-S3-S4 Distal half of Motor to sm musc

colon , rectum and inhibitory to
sphincters
Urinary bladder

External genitalia Secretory

BVs VD
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Comparison between
sympathetic &
parasympathetic
systems
 Sympathetic Parasympatheti
c
Origin Thoracolumber Craniosacral outflow
outflow (T1-L3) III, VII, IX, X
S2,3,4

Pregangli- --Short, from Long , from brain or

onic fibers spinal cord to spinal cord to
sympathetic ganglia in effector
chain. organ.
-- Synaps & --Synaps & activates
activates many few postganglionic
postganglionic fibers.
fibers.
 Sympathetic Parasympatheti
c
Ganglia a) Lateral Terminal ganglia
(paravertebral) near or on the
ganglia forming surface of effector
sympathetic organ.
chains on both
sides of spinal
cord
b) Collateral
(prevertebral)
ganglia lie
between
sympathetic
chain& organ of
 Sympathetic Parasympatheti
c
Post- Long, from Short, because
ganglionic sympathetic ganglia are
fibers chain to the embedded in
effector organ effector organ
Functionall -- catabolic -- Anabolic
y -- prepare the -- Concerned with
body for vigorous vegetative aspects
muscle activity of day to day living
(fight & flight) -- action is localized
--Action is wide and discrite
spread
 Sympathetic Parasympatheti
c
Solitary - Smooth muscles - Lacrimal glands
innervatio of cutaneous
n blood vessels.
- Pilomotor
muscles
- Sweat glands
 Chemical transmission in
the ANS
Transmission of nerve impulse at the synaptic
junction.

In autonomic ganglia
Between postganglionic neurons and effector
organs
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 Autonomic Fibers

Cholinergic Adrenergic
Secreting secreting
acetylcholine Adrenaline
and nor adrenaline
 Acetylcholine
Sites of release:
--All preganglionic endings
--Postganglionic parasympathetic endings
--Postganglionic sympathetic endings to
sweat glands and bvs of sk muscles
--Somatic nerve endings
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Synthesis and fate of
ACh
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 Cholinergic receptors
Nicotinic receptorsMuscarinic
receptors
Stimulated Small dose of Muscarine
by nicotine Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine
sites Postg neurons in All effector
autonomic ganglia stimulated by
Adrenal medulla postg. parasymp.
MEP sweat gs , sk m
(BVs) innervated by
pg sympathetic
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 Catecholamines
Sites:
--Postganglionic sympathetic terminals
release NA(80%) Ad(20%)
--Adrenal medulla release Ad(80%)
NA(20%)
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 Fate of catecholamines
Active reuptake 50-80%

Diffusion away from nerve ending.

Oxidation by MAO at sites of release

Methylation by COMT present in all tissues

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 Adrenergic receptors

ά -receptors ß-receptors

ά1 ά2 ß1 ß2
 Control of autonomic
functions
Spinal cord Brain stem Higher centers

Medulla oblongata pons Mid brain

Reticular Limbic
Hypothalamus Cerebral cortex
formation system