The Autonomic Nervous System

Hazel Anne L. Tabo

 Efferent (motor) nerves of the involuntary system supply all innervated structures of the body (viscera or internal) While, Skeletal muscles are supplied by somatic nerves.

Autonomic Nervous System

Peripheral NS An involuntary system - it consists of nerves, ganglia, and plexuses that innervate the heart, blood vessels, glands, other visceral organs, and smooth muscle in various tissues. 2 Divisions: 1. Thoracolumbar efferent outflow (Sympathetic) 2. Craniosacral eff. outflow (Parasympathetic) Enteric NS 3rd division of PNS; includes myenteric plexus (Auerbach s) and submucosal plexus (Meissner s) both sympathetic and parasympathetic afferent (sensory) nerve fibers

Main Components of Nervous System

31 pairs = spinal nerves

12 pairs = cranial nerves

Autonomic Nervous System

Nucleus nerve cell bodies or soma in the CNS Ganglion nerve cell bodies or soma in the PNS ANS is a two-neuron system: 1. Preganglionic neuron Origin: within the CNS Termination: within the ganglion Sympathetic preganglionic fibers: thoracic and lumbar spinal nerves (T1-L2/L3) Parasympathetic preganglionic fibers: cranial nerves 3,7,9,10 and sacral spinal nerves S1-S4 2. Postganglionic neuron Origin: within the ganglion Termination: Target organ or structure which it acts upon

Dorsal nerves afferent nerves Ventral nerves efferent nerves

Length of nerve fibers (axons)

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Preganglionic fibers Short Long Postganglionic fibers Long Short Main neurotransmitter Norepinephrine Acetylcholine

Neurohumoral transmission
Nerves transmit their impulses across most synapses and neuroeffector junctions through neurotransmitters (specific chemical agents) Neurotransmitters regulatory agents that causes neural transmission of impulses stimulatory or inhibitory neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are released from the Presynaptic nerve terminals into synaptic cleft which then activate or inhibit postsynaptic neuron by binding to specialized receptors.

Fundamental Steps in the Neurohumoral Transmission

1. Synthesis of transmitters 2. Storage of transmitters 3. Release of transmitters by nerve action potentials 4. Interaction of the released transmitter with receptors of the effector cell 5. Rapid removal of the transmitter 6. Recovery of the effector cell into previous state.

Sympathetic Outflow
S P I N Na+ A L N E R V E
Paravertebral sympathetic chain ganglia
Depolarization on post-synaptic neuron

Adrenoceptor

Na+
Ach

NE NE

NE

K+

K+

Ganglia
Nicotinic cholinoceptor

Effector organ

COMT or MAO

Parasympathetic Outflow
S P I N A L N E R V E
Paravertebral sympathetic chain ganglia Na+
Depolarization on post-synaptic neuron

Na+
Ach

Muscarinic cholinoceptor

Ach

K+

K+

AchE Choline

Ganglia
Nicotinic cholinoceptor

Effector organ

Sympathetic Preganglionic neuron Cholinergic fiber

Parasympathetic Cholinergic fiber Nicotinic I Cholinergic fiber Muscarinic fiber [Cholinergic]

Ganglion receptor Nicotinic I site Postganglionic neuron Receptor Site to Effector cell E2-Adrenergic fiber E1 , F1 , F2 Adrenergic fibers Catecholamines: Epinephrine; Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Dopamine

ANS Fiber Classification based on Neurotransmitter

Cholinergic fiber Acetylcholine Preganglionic efferent (motor) autonomic nerve fibers 2. Parasympathetic postganglionic fibers 3. Somatic nerve fibers in skeletal muscles
1.

Adrenergic fiber Norepinephrine

1.

Postganglionic sympathetic fibers

AUTONOMIC RECEPTORS : GENERAL CLASSES & LOCATION

Cholinergic receptors Muscarinic 1,2,3,4,5 (M1, M3 GIT; M2 heart) Nicotinic muscle (NM) Nicotinic neuronal (NN) Adrenergic receptors 1, 2 (A1 blood vessels; A2 postganglionic fibers) 1, 2, 3 (B1 heart; B2 lungs) Dopaminergic receptors Dopamine 1,2,3,4,5,6

Nerves Fibers and Receptors

Nerve Fibers whose main neurotranmitter is Acetylcholine (Ach) CHOLINERGIC Fibers whose main neutrotransmitter is Norepinephrine (NE) is ADRENERGIC Adrenergic Receptors (Receives NE) Muscarinic and Nicotinic Receptors (Receives Ach)

Factors that modify responses

A. Sensitization by denervation (sympathetic) at lower amount or level of drug, it can sensitize or stimulate to elicit response. Effects of drugs

Drugs acting on ANS based on action or effects on receptors

Receptors Cholinergic receptors in organs Stimulate Cholinergic drugs or Parasympathomimetics Depress Cholinergic receptor blockers Antimuscarinic Nicotinic blockers Adrenergic receptor blockers (alpha & beta) Adrenergic neuron blockers Ganglionic blockers (high doses of nicotine) Neuromuscular blockers

Adrenergic receptors

Directly-acting adrenergic drugs or Sympathomimetics Indirectly-acting adrenergic drugs Ganglionic stimulants (low doses of nicotine) Indirectly-acting cholinergic drugs

Adrenergic neurons Ganglionic receptors Neuromuscular junction (in skeletal muscle)

ANS
Organs are connected to pairs of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves which oppose each other. Parasympathetic nerves (on and off pairs) function when the body is not stimulated. Postganglionic Receptor: Muscarinic - Acetylcholine Sympathetic nerves (on and off pairs) function when the body is stimulated. Postganglionic Receptor: Adrenergic Catecholamines: Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Dopamine

A U T O N O M I C N E R V O U S S Y S T E M

Organ Eye

Sympathetic Pupil dilation [Mydriasis]

Parasympathetic Pupil constriction [Miosis]; Improved accommodation [Ability to focus on near objects]

Heart

HR; Contractile force; HR; Contractile force; elec. conduction through AV elecl conduction through AV node node Relaxed/opened bronchioles or airway [bronchodilation] Dec. motility and tone Contraction glycogenolysis Constricted/narrowed bronchioles [bronchoconstriction] motility and tone Varies with menstrual cycle glycogen synthesis Contracted detrussor muscle
relaxed trigone
sphincter

Lung

GIT Uterus Liver

Urinary Relaxed detrussor muscle

bladder contracted trigone
sphincter

Sources
Manigbas E. Basic Pharmacology. Guyton AC and JE Hall. 2006. Medical Physiology 11th ed. Pennsylvania USA: Elsevier Saunders.