Chapter 7: Autonomic Pharmacology

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system shown on the nervous-system organization slide?

Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems

What general body state is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system?

Resting and digesting.

What general body response is associated with the sympathetic nervous system?

Fight or flight.

Which autonomic nervous system division would be associated with a resting state?

The parasympathetic nervous system.

Which autonomic nervous system division would be associated with a fight-or-flight situation?

The sympathetic nervous system.

How are the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems related to the autonomic nervous system?

They are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system.

In the nervous-system organization diagram, what two major divisions branch directly from the nervous system?

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS).

In the nervous-system organization diagram, what two structures make up the central nervous system?

The brain and spinal cord

In the nervous-system organization diagram, what two systems branch from the peripheral nervous system?

The autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system.

In the nervous-system organization diagram, what two divisions branch from the autonomic nervous system?

The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.

In the nervous-system organization diagram, what two divisions are shown under the somatic nervous system?

Sensory and motor.

How does the parasympathetic nervous system fit into the overall organization of the nervous system?

Nervous system → PNS → autonomic nervous system → parasympathetic nervous system.

How many neurons form the basic autonomic nervous system pathway from the CNS to a peripheral target?

Two neurons

Where is the cell body of the first neuron in an autonomic nervous system pathway located?

In the brain or spinal cord.

What does the first neuron in an autonomic nervous system pathway do after leaving the CNS?

It forms a synapse with the cell body of a second neuron

Where is the cell body of the second neuron in an autonomic nervous system pathway located?

Outside the brain and spinal cord.

Where does the second neuron in an autonomic nervous system pathway terminate?

At the target tissue or organ.

What are neuron cell bodies located outside the CNS called?

Ganglia

What are the two neurons in an autonomic nervous system pathway called?

Preganglionic neuron and postganglionic neuron.

How are the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons arranged in an autonomic nervous system pathway?

CNS → preganglionic neuron → ganglion/synapse → postganglionic neuron → target tissue or organ

In the autonomic nervous system pathway figure, how can you distinguish the preganglionic neuron from the postganglionic neuron?

The preganglionic neuron extends from the CNS to the ganglion, while the postganglionic neuron extends from the ganglion to the target tissue or organ.

How does the location of the cell body differ between preganglionic and postganglionic autonomic neurons?

The preganglionic neuron's cell body is inside the CNS, while the postganglionic neuron's cell body is outside the CNS in a ganglion.

What two neurons make up the parasympathetic autonomic pathway?

A preganglionic neuron and a postganglionic neuron

In the parasympathetic nervous system, which neuron comes first in the two-neuron pathway?

The preganglionic neuron.

Are parasympathetic preganglionic axons long or short?

Long.

Where does a parasympathetic preganglionic axon travel?

From the CNS almost all the way to the target organ/tissue.

What does a parasympathetic preganglionic neuron do when it reaches the ganglion?

It synapses with a postganglionic neuron and releases acetylcholine (ACh).

Where are parasympathetic ganglia located relative to the target organ/tissue?

On or near the target organ/tissue.

Are parasympathetic postganglionic axons long or short?

Short.

Why are parasympathetic postganglionic axons short?

The ganglia are located on or near the target organ/tissue, so the postganglionic neurons have only a short distance to travel.

What neurotransmitter is released by parasympathetic postganglionic neurons?

Acetylcholine (ACh).

How does the location of parasympathetic ganglia explain the lengths of the preganglionic and postganglionic axons?

Parasympathetic ganglia are on or near the target, so preganglionic axons are long and postganglionic axons are short.

How is acetylcholine used by the two neurons in the parasympathetic pathway shown on the slide?

Both the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons release acetylcholine (ACh).

In the parasympathetic pathway diagram, how can you distinguish the preganglionic axon from the postganglionic axon by length?

The preganglionic axon is long, while the postganglionic axon is short.

In a diagram of the parasympathetic two-neuron pathway, where should the ganglion appear relative to the target organ?

On or near the target organ.

A diagram shows a long preganglionic axon, a ganglion near the target organ, and a short postganglionic axon. Which autonomic division does the diagram represent?

The parasympathetic nervous system.

What two neurons make up the sympathetic autonomic pathway?

A preganglionic neuron and a postganglionic neuron.

Where do sympathetic preganglionic neurons emerge from according to the slide?

The spinal cord

Are sympathetic preganglionic axons long or short?

Short.

Why are sympathetic preganglionic axons short?

Sympathetic ganglia are located near the spinal cord, so the preganglionic axons travel only a short distance.

What neurotransmitter does a sympathetic preganglionic neuron release when it synapses with a postganglionic neuron?

Acetylcholine (ACh).

Where are sympathetic ganglia located?

Near the spinal cord.