AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Autonomic Nervous system is also called General Visceral Efferent system.

ANS is a motor system that is concerned with the involuntary activities of all the
smooth muscles, glandular structures and Myocardium.
ANS innervates all the innervated structures except Neuromuscular Junctions
(NMJs) of skeletal muscles.
ANATOMICAL DIVISION OF ANS
Anatomically ANS can be divided into three Divisions
1. SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
2. PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
3. ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Sympathetic Nervous system is activated during Fight or Flight Responses of the
body.
Danger perceived by CNS Activation of Higher Sympathetic or
Autonomic centers Descending pathways to the spinal cord
Sympathetic outflow from spinal cord Activation of sympathetic
Ganglion Stimulation of Postganglionic sympathetic fibers
Norepinephrine Released from postganglionic nerve endings and Epinephrine
From adrenal glands Alterations in the activity of Tissues having
Adrenergic receptors
Preganglionic Sympathetic fibers originate from Thoracolumbar Region.
Sympathetic nervous system consists of Short Preganglionic Sympathetic fibers
and long Postganglionic sympathetic fibers.
Activation of Sympathetic nervous system is Diffused Not Discrete because
Preganglionic fibers stimulate the Sympathetic ganglion of its level and the
sympathetic ganglions above its level and below its level and Secondly
sympathetic nervous system stimulates adrenal medulla which releases lot of
Epinephrine. This epinephrine is diffused through the blood to all tissues having
its receptors.