Chapter 5

The Autonomic Nervous

System

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 Autonomic Nervous System

 The involuntary branch of the

nervous system
 Divided into two divisions
 Sympathetic division
 Parasympathetic division

Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Slide 7.67
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 Comparison of somatic (SNS) and autonomic
nervous system (ANS

Criteria SNS ANS

Effectors Skeletal muscles Smooth muscles, cardiac muscle &
glands
Sensory Input Special senses & Somatic senses Mainly from interoreceptors, some from
somatic senses & special senses

Control of motor Voluntary control from cerebral cortex, Involuntary control from limbic system,
output basal ganglia, cerebellum, & spinal brain stem & spinal cord, limited control
cord from cerebral cortex
Motor neuron One motor pathway, from somatic Two motor pathway, Preganglioninc
pathway motor neuron extend from CNS neuron  Ganglia  Postganglionic
synapse with effector directly neuron  Effector
Neurotransmitters & All somatic motor neurons release Preganglioninc  Acetylcholine
Hormones acetylcholine Postganglionic  Acetylcholine
1. All parasympathetic
2. Sympathetic  sweat galnds
Postganglionic sympathetic NE
Adrenal Medulla  E & NE

Responses Contraction of skeletal muscles or heart rate & contractility

or gland secretion
Relaxation or contraction of smooth
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muscles
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Neuron Chains in ANS
 Preganglionic neurons
◦ Before the ganglion
 Ganglion
◦ Synapse
◦ Grey matter
 Postganlionic neurons
◦ After the ganglion

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Cranial Nerves: parasympathetic
division
 Termed the craniosacral division
 Associated with the parasympathetic division:
◦ The oculomotor (CN III)
◦ Facial (CN VII)
◦ Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)
◦ Vagus (CN X)
 First three of these nerves convey
parasympathetic innervation to the head.
 Vagus nerve is the source of parasympathetic
stimulation for:
◦ Thoracic organs
◦ Most abdominal organs

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Spinal Nerves: parasympathetic
division
 Target organs innervated include:
◦ The distal portion of the large intestine
◦ The rectum
◦ Most of the reproductive organs
◦ The urinary bladder
◦ The distal part of the ureter.

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The Sympathetic Division
 Also termed the thoracolumbar division.
 Primarily concerned with preparing the
body for emergencies.
◦ Referred to as the “fight-or-flight” division
 Increased sympathetic activity results in:
◦ Increased alertness
◦ Increased metabolic activity

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Dual Innervation by the two
Divisions of the ANS
 Innervate organs through specific axon bundles
called autonomic plexuses.
 Communication by chemical messengers, called
neurotransmitters.
◦ Specific in each division of the autonomic nervous
system
 Usually all organs are innervated by both
divisions of the autonomic nervous system.
 Maintains homeostasis through autonomic
reflexes that occur in the innervated organs.

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Dual Innervation
 Many visceral effectors are innervated by
postganglionic axons from both ANS
divisions.
 Actions of the divisions usually oppose
each other.
◦ exert antagonistic effects on the same organ
 Opposing effects are also achieved by
increasing or decreasing activity in one
division
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 Comparison of Sympathetic & parasympathetic Divisions of ANS

Criteria Sympathetic Parasympathetic

(Thoracolumber)
Distribution Wide regions of the body: skin,
sweat galnds, arrector pili
muscle of hair follicles, adipose
tissue, smooth muscles of blood
vessels
Location of Located in lateral grey horn of
preganglionic spinal segments T1-L2.Axons of
neuron cell preganglioinc neurons constitute
bodies & site of thoracolumber outflow
outflow
Associated Sympathetic trunk ganglia &
ganglia prevertebral ganglia
(Craniosacral)
Limited mainly to head & to
viscera of thorax, abdomen, &
pelvis, some blood vessels
Located in the nuclei of cranial
nerves III, Vii, IX, & X & the
lateral grey matter of spinal
segments S2-S4. Axons of
preganglionic neurons constitute
craniosacral outflow
Terminal ganglia

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 Comparison of Sympathetic & parasympathetic Divisions of ANS
Criteria Sympathetic
(Thoracolumber)
Axon length & Pregan- with short axon
divergence synapse with many postgan-
neurons with long axons that
pass to many visceral organs
Ganglia Location Close to CNS & distant from
visceral effectors
Neurotransmitters Pre : Ach
Post : Ach  Sweat galnds
Post : NE Most organs
Physiological Fight-or-flight Responses
effects
Parasympathetic
(Craniosacral)
Pregan- neurons with long
axons usually synapse with 4-5
postgang- neurons with short
axons that pass to single
visceral effector
Typically near or within wall of
visceral effectors
Pre : Ach
Post : ACh
Rest- And –digest activities
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 Cholinergic Neurons:
 All sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons
◦ Sympathetic postganglionic neurons that innervate most sweat glands
◦ All parasympathetic postganglionic neurons.

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Note: The sympathetic postganglionic neuron to sweat glands is cholinergic,
and receptors are muscarinic.
The somatic division cholinergic stimulation of skeletal muscles has nicotinic
receptors 21
 Cholinergic Receptors

 Nicotinic receptors are called so since nicotine mimics the

actions of Ach on them.
 Muscarinic receptors are called so since the mushroom
poison Muscarine mimics the actions of Ach on them.
 Because acetylcholine is quickly inactivated by the enzyme
acetylcholinesterase (AChE), effects triggered by
cholinergic neurons are brief.

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Adrenergic Neurons
 Release norepinephrine (NE), also known
as noradrenalin. Most sympathetic
postganglionic neurons are adrenergic.
 NE is synthesized and stored in synaptic
vesicles and released by exocytosis.
 Molecules of NE diffuse across the synaptic
cleft and bind to specific adrenergic
receptors on the postsynaptic membrane,
causing either excitation or inhibition of
the effector cell.
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Adrenergic Receptors
 Generally activation of α1, β1 produces
excitation, and activation of α2, β2 receptors
causes inhibition of effector tissues with
some exceptions.

 β3 Receptors are present only on cells of

brown adipose tissue, where their activation
causes thermogenesis (heat production).

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Termination of NE & E activity
◦ The activity of NE at a synapse is terminated by :
 NE is taken up by the axon that released
 NE is enzymatically inactivated by either catechol-O-
methyltransferase (COMT) or monoamine oxidase
(MAO).
◦ Compared to ACh , NE lingers in the synaptic
cleft for a longer time. Thus effects triggered by
adrenergic neurons are longer lasting than those
triggered by cholinergic neurons

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 Receptor Agonist & Antagonist
 An agonist is a substance that
binds to and activates a
receptor, thus mimicking the
effect of a natural
neurotransmitter or hormone

 An antagonist is a substance
that binds to and blocks a
receptor, thereby preventing a
natural neurotransmitter or
hormone from exerting its
effect.

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 Physiological Effects of
The ANS
 Most Organs  Dual Innervation 
opposition to each other
 The autonomic tone: balance
between sympathetic and
parasympathetic activity, is regulated by
the hypothalamus.
 few structures receive only sympathetic innervation which
includes: Sweat glands;;;Arrector pili muscles attached to hair
follicles on the skin;;The kidneys;;The spleen;;Most blood vessels

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Sympathetic Responses

 High sympathetic tone favors the functions that can

support vigorous physical activity and rapid production
of ATP.
 At the same time, the sympathetic division inhibits
body functions that favor the storage of energy.

Sympathetic responses are apparent during

the E-situations that include
Exercise
Emergency
Excitement
And embarrassment.

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 Fight or flight responses

 Activation of the sympathetic division and release of

hormones by the adrenal medulla set a series of
physiological responses collectively called fight-or
flight response, which include the following effects:
◦ The pupils of the eye dilate
◦ Heart rate, force of contraction of the heart and blood
pressure increase.
◦ The airways dilate, allowing faster movement of air into
and out of the lungs.

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 Fight or flight responses

 The blood vessels that supply the kidneys & GIT

constrict, which decreases the blood flow through
these tissues. The result is slowing of urine
formation and digestive activities, which are not
essential during exercise.

 Blood vessels that supply organs involved in

exercise or fighting off danger, skeletal muscles,
cardiac muscles, liver and adipose tissue dilate,
allowing greater blood flow through these tissues.

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 Fight or flight responses
 Liver cells perform glycogenlysis (breakdown of
glycogen into glucose), and adipose tissue cells
perform lipolysis (breakdown of triglycerides into
fatty acids and glycerol.
 Release of glucose by the liver increases blood
glucose level
 Processes that are not essential for meeting stressful
situations are inhibited. For example muscular
movements of the GIT and digestive secretions
slowdown or even stop

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 The effects of sympathetic stimulation are longer
lasting and more widespread than the effects of
parasympathetic stimulation for three reasons

1. Sympathetic postganglionic axons diverge more extensively, as a result

many tissues are activated simultaneously.

2. Acetylcholinesterase quickly inactivates acetylcholine, whereas NE

lingers in the synaptic cleft for a longer period.

3. Epinephrine & NE secreted into blood into the blood from the adrenal
medulla intensify and prolong the responses caused by NE liberated
from sympathetic postganglionic axons. These blood borne hormones
circulate throughout the body, affecting all tissues that have alpha and
beta receptors. In time blood-borne NE and epinephrine are
inactivated by enzymatic destruction by the liver

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Parasympathetic Responses
The parasympathetic division enhances
rest and digests activities.
 Parasympathetic responses support body
functions that conserve and restore body
energy during times of rest and recovery

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 Parasympathetic Responses
 In the quiet intervals between periods of exercise,
parasympathetic impulses to the digestive glands and
the smooth muscle of the GIT predominate over
sympathetic impulses.
 This allows energy-supplying food to be digested and
absorbed. At the same time, parasympathetic
responses reduce body functions that support
physical activity.
◦ SLUDD (acronym) Salivation (S);;Lacrimation (L);;Urination (U)
;;Digestion (D);; Defecation (D)

 “three decreases”: Decreased hearty rate;; Decreased;;

diameter of airway (bronchconstriction) ;; Decreased diameter
(constriction) of the pupils 37
Autonomic Reflexes
 Autonomic reflexes are responses that occur when
nerve impulses pass through an autonomic reflex
arc. These reflexes play a key role in regulating
controlled conditions in the body, such as
◦ Blood pressure,
◦ Heart rate,
◦ Force of heart contraction and
◦ Blood vessel diameter,
◦ Digestion, urination and defecation.

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Integration centers for autonomic reflexes:

The main integrating centers for most

autonomic reflexes are located in the
hypothalamus and brain stem. Some
autonomic reflexes, such as those for
urination and defecation have integrating
centers in the spinal cord.
 The hypothalamus is the major control and
integrative center of the ANS.

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