UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
MED 1106 – PHYSIOLOGY
I
DR KALIMA THOMPSON
The Autonomic Nervous System
Organisation of the Nervous System
 Divisions of the Nervous System
Two main divisions
1. The central nervous system
 Brain
 Spinal cord

2. The peripheral nervous system

 Somatic nervous system (SNS)
 Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Enteric nervous system (ENS)
 The Autonomic Nervous System
 Controls most visceral functions of the body

 Helps to control
 arterial pressure
 gastrointestinal motility
 gastrointestinal secretion
 urinary bladder emptying
 sweating
 body temperature
 The Autonomic Nervous System

A striking characteristic of the autonomic nervous system is the rapidity and

intensity with which it can change visceral functions

 within 3 to 5 seconds the heart rate can increase to twice normal

 within 10 to 15 seconds the arterial pressure can be doubled or decreased
to such an extent to cause fainting
 sweating can begin within seconds
 the urinary bladder may empty involuntarily within seconds
 The Autonomic Nervous System
Structural Components
 Includes
 autonomic sensory neurons
 integrating centers in the central nervous system
 autonomic motor neuron
 the enteric division

 A continual flow of nerve impulses travel from autonomic sensory neurons in visceral
organs and blood vessels to integrating centers in the CNS then to autonomic motor
neurons

 Impulses from autonomic motor neurons then propagate to various effector tissues
 The Autonomic Nervous System
Sensory Component
 The main input to the ANS originates from autonomic (visceral) sensory
neurons

 Most autonomic sensory neurons are associated with interoceptors located in

blood vessels, visceral organs, muscles, and the nervous system

 Examples of interoceptors are

 chemoreceptors that monitor blood CO2 level
 mechanoreceptors that detect the degree of stretch in the walls of organs
or blood vessels
 The Autonomic Nervous System
Motor Neurons
 Most autonomic motor pathways consist of two motor neurons in series
1. The first neuron (preganglionic neuron)
 cell body in the CNS
 its myelinated axon extends from the CNS to an autonomic ganglion
2. The second neuron (postganglionic neuron)
 cell body is in the autonomic ganglion
 its unmyelinated axon extends directly from the ganglion to the effector

 Sometimes, there is extension of the first motor neuron to specialized cells known as
chromaffin cells in the adrenal medullae rather than an autonomic ganglion
 The Autonomic Nervous System
Motor Neurons
Each division of the ANS has two motor neurons
1. preganglionic neuron
 cell body is in the brain or spinal cord
 axon is a small-diameter myelinated type B fiber that usually extends to an autonomic ganglion, where it synapses with a
postganglionic neuron
 axon exits the CNS as part of a cranial or spinal nerve
 convey nerve impulses from the CNS to autonomic ganglia

2. postganglionic neuron
 second neuron in the autonomic motor pathway
 lies entirely outside the CNS in the PNS
 cell body and dendrites are located in an autonomic ganglion
 In ganglion it forms synapses with one or more preganglionic axons
 axon is a small-diameter, unmyelinated type C fiber that terminates in a visceral effector
 relay the impulses from autonomic ganglia to visceral effectors
 The Autonomic Nervous System
Motor Neurons

 Regulate visceral activities by increasing or decreasing ongoing

activities in their effector tissues

 Examples of autonomic motor responses are

dilation and constriction of the pupils
dilation and constriction of blood vessels
adjustment of heart rate and force of the
 The Autonomic Nervous System
Motor Neurons -Efferent Autonomic Signals
Efferent autonomic signals are transmitted to the various organs of the body through two major subdivisions

1. The sympathetic division

nerve impulses from one division of the ANS stimulate the organ to increase its activity (excitation)
often called the fight-or-flight division
occur during physical activity or emotional stress
sympathetic activities result in increased alertness and metabolic activities in order to prepare the body for an
emergency situation
an increased rate of nerve impulses from the sympathetic division increases heart rate
2. The Parasympathetic division
referred to as the rest-and digest division
activities conserve and restore body energy during times of rest or digesting a meal
Most of its output is directed to the smooth muscle and glandular tissue of the gastrointestinal and respiratory
tracts

Most organs have dual innervation

The Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic Nervous System
The Autonomic Nervous System
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic Nervous System
Anxiety – Induced Response
The Autonomic Nervous System
Parasympathetic and Sympathetic
The Autonomic Nervous System
Parasympathetic and Sympathetic
 Autonomic Nervous System
Ganglia

Two major groups

1.Sympathetic ganglia

2.Parasympathetic ganglia
 Autonomic Nervous System
Preganglionic Neurons sympathetic

 Cell bodies are located in the lateral horns of the gray matter in the 12 thoracic
segments and first 2-3 lumbar segments of the spinal cord

 Axons of the sympathetic preganglionic neurons are commonly called the

thoracolumbar outflow
 Autonomic Nervous System
Pre and Post ganglionic parasympathetic neurons

 Has both preganglionic and postganglionic neurons

 The preganglionic fibers travels uninterrupted all the way to the organ that is to be controlled
(except for a few cranial parasympathetic nerves) to synapse with the post ganglionic fibres

 The postganglionic neurons are located in the wall of the organ that is to be controlled

 The nuclei of cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X in the brain stem and in the lateral gray matter
of the second through fourth sacral segments of the spinal cord contain the cell bodies of
preganglionic neurons

 The axons of the parasympathetic preganglionic neurons are known as the craniosacral outflow
Spinal Nerves
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
 Autonomic neurons can be classified based on the
neurotransmitter they produce and release
Cholinergic neurons
Adrenergic neurons

 Receptors for the neurotransmitters are integral membrane

proteins found in the plasma membrane of the postsynaptic
neuron or effector cell
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Cholinergic Neurons
 Release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine

 Effects triggered by cholinergic neurons are brief, because acetylcholine is

quickly inactivated by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase

 Acetylcholine stored in synaptic vesicles is released by exocytosis

 Released acetylcholine diffuses across the synaptic cleft to bind with specific
cholinergic receptors in the postsynaptic plasma membrane
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Cholinergic Neurons
 Cholinergic receptors in the autonomic nervous system, include
1. Preganglionic neurons
 sympathetic
 parasympathetic
2. Postganglionic neurons
 parasympathetic
 sympathetic that innervate most sweat glands

 Two types of cholinergic receptors binds acetylcholine

1. Nicotinic receptors
2. Muscarinic receptors
Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Cholinergic Neurons
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Cholinergic Neurons - Nicotinic Receptors
 So named because nicotine mimics the action of acetylcholine by binding to
these receptors
 Located in
 the plasma membrane of dendrites and cell bodies of both sympathetic and
parasympathetic postganglionic neurons
 the plasma membranes of chromaffin cells of the adrenal medullae
 the motor end plate at the neuromuscular junction
 Activation of nicotinic receptors by acetylcholine leads to depolarization and
thus excitation of the postsynaptic cell
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Cholinergic Neurons - Muscarinic Receptors
 So named because a mushroom poison called muscarine mimics the actions of
acetylcholine by binding to them
 Located in
 the plasma membranes of all effectors
 most sweat glands
 Activation of muscarinic receptors by acetylcholine leads to
 depolarization (excitation) – circular muscles of Iris
 hyperpolarization(inhibition) – smooth muscles sphincters in GI
tract
 Depolarization or hyperpolarization depends on which particular cell bears the
muscarinic receptors
Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Adrenergic Neurons
 Most sympathetic postganglionic neurons are adrenergic
 Release norepinephrine (noradrenalin)
 Noradrenalin is stored in synaptic vesicles and released by exocytosis
 The noradrenalin can be either released as
a neurotransmitter by sympathetic postganglionic neurons
 released as a hormone into the blood by chromaffin cells of the adrenal medullae
 Molecules of noradrenalin diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to specific
adrenergic receptors on the postsynaptic membrane
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Adrenergic
 Two main types of adrenergic receptors
1. alpha receptors
2. beta receptors

 Found on visceral effectors innervated by most

sympathetic postganglionic axons

 Bind both norepinephrine(noradrenalin) and epinephrine(adrenalin)

 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
 Autonomic Nervous System
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
 Autonomic Reflexes
 The autonomic nervous system also operates by means of visceral reflexes

 Occur when nerve impulses pass through an autonomic reflex arc

 Play a key role in regulating controlled conditions in the body, to maintain homeostasis
blood pressure
regulated by adjusting heart rate, force of ventricular contraction, and blood vessel
diameter
digestion
regulated by adjusting motility and muscle tone of the gastrointestinal tract
defecation and urination
regulated by the opening and closing of sphincters
 Autonomic Reflexes
Components of an Autonomic Reflex Arc
 Receptor
thedistal end of a sensory neuron that responds to stimulus and produce a
change that trigger nerve impulses
 Sensory neuron
conducts nerve impulses from receptor to the CNS
 Integrating center
interneurons within the CNS relay signals from sensory neurons to motor
neurons
located mainly in the hypothalamus and brainstem
some are located in the spinal cord (urination and defecation)
 Autonomic Reflexes
Components of an Autonomic Reflex Arc
 Motor neurons
 Nerve impulses triggered by the integrating center propagate from the CNS
along motor neurons to an effector
 Two motor neurons connect the CNS to an effector
the preganglionic neuron conducts motor impulses from the CNS to an
autonomic ganglion
the postganglionic neuron conducts motor impulses from an autonomic
ganglion to an effector
 Effector
 are smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
 result in an autonomic reflex when triggered
 Autonomic Reflexes
Components of an Autonomic Reflex Arc
 Autonomic Reflexes
Components of an Autonomic Reflex Arc
Autonomic Nervous System
Control Areas
 Autonomic Reflexes
Components of an Autonomic Reflex Arc
 Drugs that affect the Autonomic Nervous System

 Sympathetic nervous system

 Sympathomimetic
 Sympatholytic

 Parasympathetic nervous system

 Parasympathomimetic
 Parasympatholytic
 Drugs that affect the Autonomic Nervous System Sympathomimetic

 Albuterol/Salbutamol

 Mechanism of action
 beta 2 agonist
smooth muscle relaxation in the respiratory tract
 Drugs that affect the Autonomic Nervous System
Sympatholytic

 Propranolol

 Mechanism of action
non - selective beta blocker
competitively inhibits Beta 1 receptors in myocardium
decreases heart rate and contractility
 Drugs that affect the Autonomic Nervous System
Parasympathomimetic

 Pilocarpine

 Mechanism of action
 works at M3 receptors
 used for dilation of pupils in preparation for fundoscopic examinations
 Drugs that affect the Autonomic Nervous System
Parasympatholytic

 Atropine

 Mechanism of action
 antimuscarinic
 used in treatment of persistent symptomatic bradycardias and
poisoning due to organophosphates