14A Study Guide

The autonomic nervous system controls:
A. Skeletal muscles
B. Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
C. Voluntary movement only
D. Brain neurons only

Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands

The functions of the autonomic nervous system are:
A. Conscious and voluntary
B. Subconscious and maintain homeostasis
C. Always excitatory
D. Only motor to skeletal muscles

Subconscious and maintain homeostasis

Effectors of the autonomic nervous system include:
A. Heart, blood vessels, digestive organs, lungs, glands
B. Only skeletal muscles
C. Bones and joints
D. Hair follicles exclusively

Heart, blood vessels, digestive organs, lungs, glands

The autonomic nervous system motor pathway uses:
A. Single neuron from CNS to target
B. Two-neuron chain: preganglionic and postganglionic
C. Three-neuron chain only
D. No neurons, only hormones

Two-neuron chain: preganglionic and postganglionic

Preganglionic neurons are:
A. In CNS, thin, lightly myelinated, go to a ganglion
B. Outside CNS, non-myelinated
C. Always inhibit organs
D. In skeletal muscles

In CNS, thin, lightly myelinated, go to a ganglion

Postganglionic neurons are:
A. Inside CNS
B. Outside CNS, non-myelinated, go to target organ
C. Always myelinated
D. Only in somatic nervous system

Outside CNS, non-myelinated, go to target organ

Preganglionic fibers release:
A. Norepinephrine
B. Acetylcholine (ACh)
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Postganglionic fibers release:
A. Sympathetic: mostly norepinephrine (NE), some ACh for sweat glands
B. Parasympathetic: ACh
C. Always excitatory
D. Only dopamine

Sympathetic: mostly norepinephrine (NE), some ACh for sweat glands

The autonomic nervous system can:
A. Excite or inhibit organs depending on receptor type
B. Only excite organs
C. Only inhibit organs
D. Only affect skeletal muscles

Excite or inhibit organs depending on receptor type

The parasympathetic division is nicknamed:
A. Fight & Flight
B. Rest & Digest

Rest & Digest

The sympathetic division is nicknamed:
A. Fight & Flight
B. Rest & Digest

Fight & Flight

Parasympathetic origin:
A. Thoracolumbar (T1-L2)
B. Craniosacral (brain stem + S2–S4)

Craniosacral (brain stem + S2–S4)

Sympathetic origin:
A. Thoracolumbar (T1-L2)
B. Craniosacral

Thoracolumbar (T1-L2)

Parasympathetic fiber lengths:
A. Short preganglionic, long postganglionic
B. Long preganglionic, short postganglionic

Long preganglionic, short postganglionic

Sympathetic fiber lengths:
A. Short preganglionic, long postganglionic
B. Long preganglionic, short postganglionic

Short preganglionic, long postganglionic

Parasympathetic ganglia location:
A. Sympathetic trunk
B. Near or in target organs (terminal/intramural)

Near or in target organs (terminal/intramural)

Sympathetic ganglia location:
A. Sympathetic trunk & collateral (prevertebral) ganglia
B. In target organs

Sympathetic trunk & collateral (prevertebral) ganglia

Neurotransmitters released by the divisions:

Parasympathetic: preganglionic = ACh, postganglionic = ACh
Sympathetic: preganglionic = ACh, postganglionic = mostly NE, some ACh for sweat glands

Dual innervation means:
A. Most organs receive input from both divisions
B. Only sympathetic innervation
C. Only parasympathetic innervation
D. No overlap between divisions

Most organs receive input from both divisions

Parasympathetic cranial part fibers run in which cranial nerves?
A. 3, 7, 9, 10
B. 5, 6, 11, 12
C. Only 10
D. 2, 3, 4

3, 7, 9, 10

Parasympathetic sacral part fibers come from:
A. T1–L2
B. S2–S4

S2–S4

Parasympathetic ganglia are:
A. Sympathetic trunk ganglia
B. Terminal or intramural, in or near organ

Terminal or intramural, in or near organ

Sympathetic origin is:
A. Craniosacral
B. T1–L2 lateral horns of spinal cord

T1–L2 lateral horns of spinal cord

Sympathetic trunk ganglia count:

23 on each side (3 cervical, 11 thoracic, 4 lumbar, 4 sacral, 1 coccygeal)

Collateral (prevertebral) ganglia location:

Anterior to vertebral column, serve abdominal & pelvic organs

Some organs receive only sympathetic innervation:

Sweat glands, arrector pili, blood vessels

Oculomotor nerve (III) →
A. Otic ganglion
B. Ciliary ganglia → iris & lens

Ciliary ganglia → iris & lens

Facial nerve (VII) →

Pterygopalatine & submandibular ganglia → salivary & lacrimal glands

Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) →
Otic ganglion → parotid gland

Otic ganglion → parotid glan

Vagus nerve (X) →

Thoracic & abdominal plexuses → heart, lungs, digestive organs

Sacral parasympathetic fibers →

Pelvic splanchnic nerves → pelvic plexus → bladder, distal colon, reproductive organs

Synapse in trunk ganglia →
A. Postganglionic fibers rejoin spinal nerves via gray rami communicantes
B. Only cranial nerves affected
C. Only adrenal medulla
D. Parasympathetic only

Postganglionic fibers rejoin spinal nerves via gray rami communicantes

Synapse in collateral ganglia →
A. Preganglionic fibers pass through trunk without synapsing
B. Only to head
C. Only to lungs
D. All fibers release ACh

Preganglionic fibers pass through trunk without synapsing

Adrenal medulla →

Receives direct preganglionic fibers; releases epinephrine (80%) & norepinephrine (20%) into blood

Drugs affecting autonomic nervous system neurotransmitters can alter:
A. Heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, pupil size
B. Skeletal muscle contraction only
C. Bone growth
D. Hair color

Heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, pupil size

Parasympathetic dysfunction can cause:
A. Poor digestion, urinary retention
B. Tremors
C. Hypertension
D. Sweating abnormalities

Poor digestion, urinary retention

Sympathetic dysfunction can cause:
A. Abnormal sweating, blood pressure problems, abnormal fight-or-flight responses
B. Memory loss
C. Deafness
D. Paralysis

Abnormal sweating, blood pressure problems, abnormal fight-or-flight responses

Adrenal medulla dysfunction can cause:
A. Abnormal hormone release (epinephrine/norepinephrine) affecting heart & metabolism
B. Vision loss
C. Skeletal muscle paralysis
D. Urinary retention

Abnormal hormone release (epinephrine/norepinephrine) affecting heart & metabolism