Autonomic Nervous System

14 April, 2023

Touqeer Ahmed Ph.D.

Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences
National University of Sciences and Technology
touqeer.aahmed@gmail.com
Autonomic Nervous System
 Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic Nervous System Parasympathetic Nervous System
Functions of the sympathetic nervous system

Although continually active to some degree (for example, in maintaining

the tone of vascular beds), the sympathetic division has the property of
adjusting in response to stressful situations, such as
– trauma
– Fear
– Hypoglycemia
– Cold and exercise.

Effects of stimulation of the sympathetic division:

– increase heart rate and blood pressure

– mobilize energy stores of the body
– increase blood flow to skeletal muscles and the heart while diverting flow
from the skin and internal organs.
– sympathetic stimulation results in dilation of the pupils and the bronchioles
– it also affects GI motility and the function of the bladder.
 Functions of the Parasympathetic nervous system

• The parasympathetic division is involved with maintaining homeostasis

within the body. To accomplish this, it maintains essential bodily functions,
such as digestive processes and elimination of wastes.

• The parasympathetic division is required for life. It usually acts to oppose or

balance the actions of the sympathetic division and is generally dominant
over the sympathetic system in “rest and digest” situations.

• The parasympathetic system is not a functional entity as such and it never

discharges as a complete system. If it did, it would produce massive,
undesirable, and unpleasant symptoms, such as involuntary urination and
defecation.

• Instead, discrete parasympathetic fibers are activated separately and the

system functions to affect specific organs, such as the stomach or eye.
Differences between sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous systems.
Autonomic Nervous System Neurotransmitters

Muscarinic and Nicotinic Receptors

 Autonomic Nervous System (Receptors)
Muscarinic receptors:
M1 – M5
•M2 is present in heart
•M3 is present in glands, smooth muscles and
endothelium
•Nicotinic receptors (present in NMJ and CNS)

Adrenergic receptors:
α and β Receptors
•α are mainly present in blood vessels
• β are present in heart and lungs
 Somatic Nervous System

Somatic nervous system:

– The efferent somatic nervous system differs from the
autonomic system in that a single myelinated motor
neuron, originating in the CNS, travels directly to
skeletal muscle without the mediation of ganglia.

– Somatic nervous system is under voluntary control,

whereas the autonomic system is involuntary.

– Responses in the somatic division are generally faster

than those in the ANS.
Drugs Acting on The Autonomic Nervous System
 Drugs Acting on Autonomic Nervous System
• Antimuscarinic drugs (e.g. Atropine and scopolamine)
Cholinergic blockers are beneficial in a variety of clinical situations such as, dilation of pupil,
antispasmodic in GIT, antidote for the overdoses of cholinesterase inhibitor insecticides and
antisecretory. Used as antisecretory agent to block secretions in the upper and lower respiratory
tracts prior to surgery.

• Ganglionic blockers (e.g. Mecamylamine):

The drugs produce complex and unpredictable responses, making it impossible to achieve selective
actions. Therefore, ganglionic blockade is rarely used therapeutically. However, ganglionic blockers
often serve as tools in experimental pharmacology. Mecamylamine is primarily used to lower blood
pressure in emergency situations.

• Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs: (Tubocurarine)

Neuromuscular blockers are clinically useful during surgery for producing complete muscle
relaxation, without having to employ higher anesthetic doses to achieve comparable muscular
relaxation.

• Adrenergic Blocking Drugs (Propanolol and atenolol)

Drugs that block adrenoceptors profoundly affect blood pressure. Blockade of these receptors
reduces the sympathetic tone of the blood vessels, resulting in decreased peripheral vascular
resistance. Propanolol is non specific blocker and atenolol is selective beta 1 bolcker