Human Physiology

Dr. Jimena Aracena

Chapter 9:
Autonomic Nervous
System
8CAutonomicNS
 Introduction
• The Somatic Motor system is voluntary and regulates the skeletal
muscles.
• The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is involuntary and its
effectors are visceral organs and blood vessels.
• The ANS regulates:
• Cardiac muscle
• Smooth muscle
• Glands
The ANS has 2 neurons: pre- and post-
ganglionic
 Comparison of somatic motor
neurons to ANS neurons
• When somatic motor neurons of skeletal muscles are
severed, the muscles become paralyzed and atrophy. When
ANS neurons are severed from their effectors organs, those
organs maintain tension and in many cases become more
stimulated.
• Target organs of the ANS neurons often have their own
contraction rhythm (heart, intestine).
• In somatic motor neurons, ACh always stimulates skeletal
muscle. In ANS neurons, neurotransmitters can either
stimulate or inhibit the target organs.
 The two divisions of the ANS:
• The Sympathetic division of the ANS
Sym
is often summarized as the “fight or
flight” division.
• The Parasympathetic division can
be described as “rest and digest”.
• The two divisions usually produce
Para
antagonistic effects on their target
organs (the effects of one are the
opposite of the effects of the
other).
Sympathetic division (in red)
Parasympathetic division (in blue):
 Sympathetic division
Locate the spinal cord and the sympathetic ganglia and chain
The pathway of sympathetic neurons: Some synapse in the chain
ganglia and some in a collateral ganglion far from the spinal cord
Location of collateral
ganglia
Sympathetic division (in red)
Parasympathetic division (in blue):

Terminal
ganglion

Vagus
Parasympathetic division
Branches of the Vagus nerve
 Functions of the ANS
• Sympathetic division:
• Prepare body for intense physical activity and
emergencies.
• Heart rate and blood glucose rise.
• Blood diverted from visceral organs and skin to
skeletal muscle.
• Parasympathetic division:
• Generally the opposite as the sympathetic effect
• Not usually activated as a whole
• Decrease in heart rate and increased activity of
digestive tract
 Adrenergic and cholinergic synaptic
transmission
• Both sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons
secrete ACh (cholinergic).
• Postganglionic sympathetic neurons release norepinephrine
(adrenergic).
• Exception: those to blood vessels in skeletal muscle and sweat
glands.
• Postganglionic parasympathetic neurons release ACh (cholinergic).
All Pregang. = ACh
Sym. = NE
Parasym. = ACh
 Adrenergic stimulation (Symp.)

• From epinephrine (adrenal medulla hormone) and

norepinephrine (symp. nerve endings and adrenal medulla).
• The same neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory
depending on the receptor. (Remember EPSPs and IPSPs).
• There are two major kinds of adrenergic receptors: alpha (α)
and beta (β). Each of those has two subtypes present in
different organs: α1 and α2; β1 and β2
Adrenergic receptors have different
effects on different organs
 Cholinergic stimulation
• All preganglionic neurons (symp. and parasymp.) are cholinergic.
• Most postganglionic parasympathetic neurons are cholinergic.
• In somatic motor neurons (to skeletal muscle) cholinergic neurons are
always excitatory.
• In the postganglionic parasympathetic neurons, the effects depend
on the receptors type: nicotinic vs. muscarinic.
Cholinergic receptors
• Nicotinic receptors:
• Found in cells stimulated by the somatic motor
neurons (neuromuscular junction) and by
preganglionic ANS neurons.
• Blocked by the drug curare.
• Muscarinic receptors:
• Found in cells stimulated by postganglionic
parasympathetic neurons.
• Blocked by the drug atropine.
 Organs with dual innervation
• Most visceral organs are innervated by both sympathetic
and parasympathetic fibers.
• Most effects are antagonistic but some effects are
complementary or cooperative (e.g: urination, salivation,
and sexual responses).
 Organs without dual innervation

• Only sympathetic innervation:

• Adrenal medulla
• Arrector pili muscles in skin
• Sweat glands in skin
• Most blood vessels
 Higher brain centers also control the ANS
• Through the ANS, the medulla oblongata controls the cardiovascular,
pulmonary, urinary, reproductive, and digestive systems. It also
regulates the hypothalamus.
• The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, thirst and
emotional states through the ANS. It also regulates the pituitary
gland.
• The limbic system is involved in emotional states through the ANS:
blushing, fainting, cold sweat, racing heart, “butterflies in the
stomach”, etc.