Lecture Notes Flashcards

Flashcards generated from lecture notes on the nervous system.

What is the main purpose of the autonomic nervous system?

Homeostasis

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Parasympathetic and sympathetic

What is the function of the parasympathetic division?

Rest and digest; conserves energy and increases nutrient absorption.

What is the function of the sympathetic division?

Fight or flight; prepares the body for stress and action.

In the parasympathetic nervous system, are preganglionic axons long or short?

Long

In the sympathetic nervous system, are preganglionic axons long or short?

Short

Which system has less divergence of preganglionic axons?

Parasympathetic

Which system has more divergence of preganglionic axons?

Sympathetic

Where are the sympathetic trunks located?

Immediately lateral to the vertebral column

What are sympathetic trunk ganglia composed of?

Somas of ganglionic neurons

In a cross section of the spinal cord, where is the sensory located?

Back

In a cross section of the spinal cord, where is the motor located?

Front

What is the postganglionic sympathetic nerve pathway?

Everything after the ganglia

Which sympathetic pathway involves only a preganglionic axon going straight to the effector?

Adrenal medulla pathway

What does the adrenal medulla pathway connect directly to?

Medulla of the adrenal gland

Which cranial nerve supplies the parasympathetic innervation to the thoracic and abdominal organs?

Vagus nerve

What is a plexus?

A gathering and rebranching of nerves

What is the solar plexus?

A gathering of nerves around the heart and lungs

What is dual innervation?

Organs receive input from both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

What term describes when neural innervations have opposite effects?

Antagonistic