The Autonomic Nervous

System

Part 3
 Comparison

 Somatic systems- conscious awareness

 Autonomic sensory - not consciously perceived
 Monitors internal conditions- blood gasses, viscera
operation, etc
 Autonomicmotor- cardiac muscle, smooth
muscle & glands
 Often adjustment of internal controls in relation to whole
body needs
Motor pathways

 Somaticmotor neurons go directly

from spinal cord to skeletal muscle
 Autonomic motor systems includes
two motor neurons:
 Preganglionic neuron from CNS to
Autonomic neuron from cell body in
ganglion to effector
Divisions

 Sympathetic division
 Parasympathetic division
 both divisions often innervate the same effector
 They have opposite effects
 e.g.sympathetic stimulates heart rate and
parasympathetic slows it
Figure 11.1a
Figure 11.1b
Sympathetic division

 Thoracolumbar division-
 outflow from thoracic & lumbar segments of spinal
cord
 Preganglionic fibers –
 From lateral horns via ventral roots
 to sympathetic ganglia
 synapse with postganglionic cells in ganglia
Sympathetic Ganglia

 Sympathetic Trunk Ganglia

 Vertical rows on either side of vertebral
column
 Post synaptic fibers mostly got to organs
above diaphragm
 Prevertebral ganglia
 Anterior to vertebral column-
 celiac, superior mesenteric & inferior
mesenteric
 Innervate organs below diaphragm
Preganglionic Routing

 To postganglionic neuron
 1. in trunk ganglion at level of root
 2. In ganglion higher or lower in chain
 3. in prevertebral ganglion
 4.Directly to target organ-adrenal medulla
 average preganglionic neuron synapses with 17 postganglionic neurons
Figure 11.2
Parasympathetic Neurons

 Output at top-medulla nuclei

 Cranial nerves II, VII,IX, X
 Bottom of spinal cord- sacral nerves
 Synapse in terminal ganglia
 Near or in the innervated organ
 localized to single effector organ
Figure 11.3
Neurotransmitters

 Acetylcholine-
 All preganglionic fibers terminals
 parasympathetic postganglionic terminals
 A few postganglionic sympathetic terminals
 Short-lived effects
 Norepinephrine-
 Most postganglioic sympathetic terminals
 Longer effects
 Amplified by adrenal release with epinephrine
ANS Activity

 Balance between sympathetic &

parasympathetic “tone” regulated through
hypothalamus
 Only sympathetic to:
 Sweat glands, arrrector pili muscles, kidneys,
spleen, blood vessels & adrenal medulla
Sympathetic Effects

 Fight-or-Flight activities
 Dilate pupils
 Increase HR, heart contraction & BP
 Dilate airways
 Constrict blood vessels to non essential organs:
kidneys, GI tract
 Dilate vessels to muscles, cardiac muscle, liver &
adipose
 Mobilize nutrients: glucose & fats
Parasympathetic Effects

 Rest-and–digest activities
 SLUDD
 Salvation
 Lacrimation
 Urination
 Digestion
 Defecation
 Decrease- HR, airway diameter, pupil
diameter
End of Part 3