Anatomy Chapter 16 – Autonomic Nervous System

Sympathetic Division
 Fight or Flight
o Alertness
o Metabolic Rate
o Reduced digestion and urination
o Energy reservation activation
o Increased breathing
o Increased heart rate
o Increased sweat

Parasympathetic Division
 Rest and Digest
o Decrease metabolic rate
o Decrease heart rate
o Increased digestion
o Increased urination and defecation

Overview of Pathways
 Requires 2 neurons
o 2 Lower Motor Neurons
o Synapse between 1st and 2nd neuron is in PNS
 Ganglion formation
 Preganglionic  Before Ganglion
o Sympathetic fibers are shorter
o Closer to CNS
o Release neurotransmitters to postganglionic
 Postganglionic  Ganglion
o Parasympathetic fibers are shorter
o Release neurotransmitters to target
 Sympathetic and Parasympathetic divisions release Ach
o Sympathetic also releases Catecholamine’s
Sympathetic Division
 Thoracolumbar Division
o Preganglionic neurons originate at T1 – L2
 Lateral to T1 – L2
 Preganglionic neurons come from lateral grey horns
o Enter ventral roots
 Motor Pathway
 Preganglionic fibers are Type B
o Medium myelination and medium diameter
o Short
 Closer to CNS
 Postganglionic fibers are Type
o No myelination and thin diameter
 3 Postganglionic Divisions
o Sympathetic Chain Ganglia (Paired)
o Collateral Ganglia (Unpaired)
o Adrenal Medulla (Paired)
 Acts like ganglion
 Releases catecholamine’s

Sympathetic Chain Ganglia

 Called paravertebral
o Run parallel to vertebral column
 Only Ganglia adjacent to T1 – L2 will synapse with
preganglionic fibers
o 3 Cervical Ganglia
o 10-12 Thoracic Ganglia
o 4-5 Lumbar Ganglia
o 4-5 Sacral Ganglia
o 1 Coccygeal Ganglion

Sympathetic Chain Ganglia Pathway

 Originate from lateral gray horns (T1 – L2)
 2 different scenarios
 1 common pathway
o Start from Lateral Gray Horns
o Exit through Ventral Roots
o Exit Spinal Nerve and form White Communicants
 Myelinated
 Part of Preganglionic Neuron
o Enter Paravertebral Chain
Scenario 1: Thoracic Viscera and Neck Innervation
 White Communicants enter paravertebral chain
 Ascend through the upper 5 vertebrae’s (T1 – T5)
 Synapse with 3 Cervical Ganglia
o Superior, Medial, Inferior
 Cervical Ganglia acts as Postganglionic Fibers
o Sympathetic nerves branch from Postganglionic Fibers
 Innervate Thoracic and Neck
o Forms networks around heart, aorta, and
lung

Scenario 2: Thoracic Wall, Abdomen, and Extremities

 White Communicants enter paravertebral chain
 Synapse with Postganglionic Neurons at entry level
o Parallel to vertebral region
 Postganglionic Fiber Reenters Spinal Nerve
o Loops
o Forms Gray Communicants
 Distributes along Spinal Nerves
 Innervates Torso and Extremities

Collateral Ganglia
 Exit Spinal Nerve to form White Communicants
 Do not synapse with paravertebral chain
o Passes chain
 Continues to form Splanchnic Nerve
o In Abdominal Region
o Preganglionic Fibers
 Synapses to Postganglionic Fiber
o Prevertebral/Collateral Ganglia
 Unpaired
o Located along Aortic Plexus
o Named after blood vessels
 Postganglionic Fibers come from Collateral Ganglia
o Celiac, Superior Mesenteric
 Autonomic
o Inferior Mesenteric
 Lumbar
 Innervates Viscera of Abdomen
Adrenal Medulla
 Exit Spinal Nerve to form White Communicants
 Do not synapse with paravertebral chain
o Passes chain
 Enters Splanchnic Nerve
 Passes Collateral Ganglia
 Enters Adrenal Medulla
o Synapses Here
 Only Preganglionic
o Functions as Ganglia
o Releases hormones throughout the body

Neurotransmitters
 Acetylcholine is released by preganglionic fibers
o Bind to Cholinergic Receptors
 Epinephrine and Norepinephrine released from postganglionic fibers
o Binds to Targets
o Norepinephrine is highly used
 Activate G Proteins in Membrane

Alpha Receptors
 Alpha 1 (Stimulatory)
o All sympathetic targets except the heart
o Increases calcium inside cell
 2nd Messenger
 Increases Metabolic Activity
 Alpha 2 (Inhibitory)
o Pancreas and Blood Platelets
 Lowers cAMP
 Lowers Metabolic Activity

Beta Receptors
 Beta 1 (Stimulatory)
o Increases Metabolic Activity
o Heart, Kidney, Fat
 Increased Usage
 Beta 2 (Inhibition)
o Inhibition/Relaxation
o Relaxes smooth muscles in respiratory tract (Airways)
o Relaxes heart
 Beta 3
o Adipose Breakdown
Clinical Situation
 Beta 1 Blocker  Slows down heart rate
o Reduces fat breakdown
o Promotes urination
 General Beta Blocker  Inhibits all Beta Receptors
o Beta 2 Blockage  Cause dilation in lungs
 Hard to breathe
o Lowers Heart Rate

Acetylcholine
 Can be released from postganglionic fibers
 Promotes sweat gland activation and Blood Vessels
o In Muscles
o Cools Body
 Promotes Beta 1, Beta 2, Beta 3 Activation
o Lipolysis, Heart Rate, Air

Nitric Oxide
 Can be released from postganglionic fibers
 Innervates smooth muscles (Brain)
o Blood Vessels dilate
o Increase Blood Flow

The Parasympathetic Division

 Craniosacral Division
o Associated with cranial nerves 3,7,9,10
o Sacral Segments S2 – S4
 Preganglionic Fibers are Type B
o Long
 Postganglionic Fibers are Type C
o Short

Postganglionic Neurons
 Terminal
o Close to target
o In Pairs
o Cranial Nerves
o Named Segments
 Intramural
o Vegus Nerve and Sacral Division
o Embedded within Target
o Not named
Brain Stem Preganglionic Neurons
 Associated with Cranial Nerves
o 3,7,9,10
o 3-4  Midbrain
o 5-8  Pons
o 8-12  Medulla Oblongata
 Cranial Nerve 3
o Synapses with Ciliary Ganglia
o Innervates inside muscles of the eye
 Pupil and Lens
o Parasympathetic  Sphincter Muscles
o Sympathetic  Dilator Muscles
 Cranial Nerve 7
o Synapses with Pterygopalatine and Submandibular Ganglia
 Pterygopalatine  Lacrimonal Glands and Nasal Glands
 Submandibular  Sublingual and Submandibular Glands
 Salivation
 Cranial Nerve 9
o Synapses with Otic Ganglia
o Supplies 3rd pair of Salivary gland on Masseter
 Facial Nerve passes here
 Cranial Nerve 10
o Synapses at thoracic and abdominal viscera
 Intramural Ganglia
o Interacts with Aortic Plexus
o Ganglionic Fibers start at organs
 Target is organ too

Spinal Cord Preganglionic Neurons

 In Pelvic Region
 S2 – S4
 Preganglionic fibers form Splanchnic Pelvic Nerves
o Interacts with Aortic Plexus
o Goes to Viscera
 Innervates Pelvic Viscera
o Acts as Intramural Ganglia
Acetylcholine
 Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
o Sympathetic  Only Preganglionic
o Parasympathetic  Both Ganglion
 Nicotinic Receptors found on Ganglionic Dendrites
o Excitation
o Skeletal Muscles
o Medication can cause Paralysis and shut down ANS
 Both Divisions
 Muscarinic Receptors are found on Target Organs
o Parasympathetic will be shut down
 Mainly found here
 Few in Sympathetic
o Stimulatory and Inhibitory
 Depends on targets