AUTONOMIC NERVOUS

SYSTEM
Ginus Partadiredja
Department of Physiology

Nervous System
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Somatic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Enteric Nervous System

Somatic

Autonomic

Sensory Input

Special & somatic

senses

Interoceptors, special &

somatic senses

Motor Output

Voluntary

Involuntary

Motor Neuron

One neuron

Two neurons (pre- & postganglionic neurons)

Neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine

Acetylcholine or
Norepinephrine

Effectors

Skeletal muscle

Smooth muscle, cardiac

muscle, glands

Responses

Contraction

Contraction/ Relaxation;
Increased/ Decreased
secretion

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Motor nuclei
Lateral Horn

Motor nuclei
Anterior Horn

SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

ANATOMY OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Thoracolumbar
(T1 L2)

Craniosacral (n III, VII, IX,

X, S2 S4)

SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Pre- & post-ganglionic neurons

Sympathetic trunk, ganglia, & plexus

Thoracolumbar (T1 L2)

A. Para-vertebral ganglion
1. Superior cervical ganglion:
Head & heart
2. Middle cervical ganglion:
Heart
3. Inferior cervical ganglion:
Heart
B. Pre-vertebral ganglion
4. Celiac ganglion: stomach,
spleen, liver, kidney, small
Intestine
5. Superior mesenteric ganglion:
small intestine & colon
6. Inferior mesenteric ganglion:
distal colon, rectum, urinary bladder,
genital organs

PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Craniosacral (n III, VII, IX, X, S2 S4)
Cranial (n III, VII, IX, X)
1. Ciliary ganglion (n III): smooth muscle
of eyeballs
2. Pterygopalatine ganglion (n VII): nasal
mucosa, palate, pharynx, lacrimal
glands
3. Submandibular ganglion (n VII):
submandibular & sublingual glands
4. Otic ganglion (n IX): parotid gland
Sacral (S2 S4)
Pelvic splanchnic nerves: colon, ureters,
Urinary bladder, reproductive organs

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Distribution

Widespread (sweat
glands, arrector pili
muscles, blood
vessels)

Limited (viscera &

some blood vessels)

Outflow from CNS

Thoracolumbar (T1L2)

Craniosacral (Nerves
III, VII, IX, X, S2-S4)

Location of ganglia Paravertebral &

Terminal ganglia

prevertebral

Divergence
Pre-ganglionic
neurotransmitters

Close to CNS

Close/within viscera

Pre-ganglionic >20
post-ganglionic
many effectors
ACh

Pre-ganglionic 4-5
post-ganglionic
single effectors
ACh

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Post-ganglionic
neurotransmitters

NE (mostly) or ACh
(sweat glands, blood
vessels to skeletal
muscles)

ACh

Deactivation of
neurotransmitters

Slow (by COMT or

MAO)

Rapid (ACh-esterase)

Physiological
effects

Fight-or-flight

Rest-and-digest

SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

NEUROTRANSMITTERS & RECEPTORS

Cholinergic Neurons & Receptors
Nicotinic receptors (post-ganglionic neurons, motor end plate,
adrenal medulla)
Muscarinic receptors (effectors: smooth muscle, cardiac muscle,
glands, sweat glands, skeletal muscle blood vessel)

Adrenergic Neurons & Receptors

1 - excitation
2 - inhibition
1 - excitation
2 - inhibition
3 - brown adipose tissue

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Glands
Adrenal medulla

Secretion of NE/ E
(Nicotinic)

Lacrimal

Secretion ()

Secretion

Pancreas

Inhibit digestive
enzymes & insulin
(2); Secretion of
glucagon (2)

Secretion of digestive
enzymes & insulin

Posterior pituitary Secretion of ADH (1)

Pineal

Secretion of melatonin
()

Sweat

Increase (muscarinic
& 1)

Adipose tissue

Lipolysis (1), release

(1 & 3)

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Glands
Liver

Glycogenolysis,
gluconeogenesis,
inhibit bile secretion

Kidney,
juxtaglomerular
cell

Secretion of renin (1)

Cardiac muscle

Increased heart rate,

atrial & ventricular
contraction (1)

Glycogen synthesis,
increased bile secretion
?

Decreased heart rate,

atrial contraction

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Iris, radial muscle Dilation of pupil
Iris, circular
muscle

?
Constriction of pupil

Ciliary muscle
(eye)

Relaxation - distant
vision (2)

Contraction close
vision

Lungs, bronchus

Dilation (2)

Constriction

Gall bladder and

ducts

Relaxation (2)

Contraction/ release of
bile

Stomach,
intestine

Decreased motility
Increased motility;
(1, 2, 2); sphincter sphincter relaxation
contraction (1)

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Spleen

Contraction, secretion
of blood (1)

Ureter

Increase motility (1)

Urinary bladder

Wall contraction;
Wall relaxation (2);
sphincter relaxation
sphincter contraction
(1)
Inhibit contraction (non- Minimal effect
pregnant, 2), promote
contraction (pregnant,
1)

Uterus

Sex organs

Smooth muscle
contraction, prostate
ejaculation

?
Increase motility (?)

Vasodilation, erection

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Hair follicles,
arrector pili
muscle

Erection of hairs

Vascular smooth
muscle-arterioles
Salivary gland

Constriction, decrease Dilation, increase K+ &

water
secretion (1)

Gastric gland

Constriction, decrease Gastric secretion

secretion (1)

Intestinal gland

Constriction, decrease Intestinal secretion

secretion (1)

Coronary arteriole Dilation (2),

Constriction (1, 2,
muscarinic

Constriction

Sympathetic

Parasympathetic

Vascular smooth
muscle -arterioles
Skin & mucosa

Constriction

Skeletal muscle

Constriction (1),
dilation (2 &
muscarinic)
Constriction (1, 2)

Brain

Constriction (1)

Kidney

Decreased urine (1)

Systemic veins

Constriction (1),
Dilation (2)

Abdominal
viscera

Dilation

RECEPTOR AGONISTS & ANTAGONISTS

Agonists
Phenylephrine agonist 1 receptor (decongestan)

Antagonists
Atropine block muscarinic receptors (pupil dilator, GIT relaxant)
Propanolol non-selective blocker (also 2, decrease
glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, bronchoconstriction)
Metoprolol selective 1 blocker (heart)

Parasympathetic (rest & digest)

Sympathetic (fight & flight)

SLUDD

E situations

Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Digestion
Defecation

Exercise
Emergency
Excitement
Embarrassment

AUTONOMIC REFLEXES
Blood pressure, heart rate, ventricular contraction, blood
vessel diameter, digestion (motility of GIT), defecation,
urination
Autonomic reflex arc
Receptor Sensory neuron Integrating center
(hypothalamus, brain stem, spinal cord) Motor neurons
Effector

AUTONOMIC CONTROL
Hypothalamus
Sensory

inputs (visceral, smell, gustation,

temperature, osmolarity, emotions (limbic system)
Motor output (brain stem: cardiovascular, salivation,
swallowing, vomiting; spinal cord: defecation &
urination)
Sympathetic (posterior & lateral parts of
hypothalamus)
Parasympathetic (anterior & medial parts of
hypothalamus)

References
Carola R, Harley JP, Noback, CR (1990). Human
Anatomy and Physiology, Chapter 14, Pages:
411-425.
Tortora GJ & Derrickson B (2006). Principles of
Anatomy and Physiology, 11th ed. Chapter 15,
Pages: 525-545.