Physio: Ch 9 Autonomic Nervous System

What makes up the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

Cranial/spinal nervers, overall nerves and sensory organs

What is the main function of the Peripheral Nervous system (aka EFFerent pathway)?

carries information FROM nerves in the CNS to *voluntary* muscles and glands

What are the two divisions of the PNS?

Somatic Nervous System (SNS) and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

What does the somatic nervous system (SNS) do?

controls the skeletal muscles

[think S for skeletal]

Name 3 characteristics of the SNS

- Voluntary
-Excitatory (no inhibition)
-Movement/Muscle cell excitation

(Think VEM)

What does the Autonomic nervous system (ANS) do?

controls the smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands (aka visceral organs n blood vessels)

[think auto=automatic = involuntary muscles]

What are the two subdivision of the ANS?

Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system

What does the Parasympathetic system do?

Controls daily systems (sleeping, digesting..etc)

[think P for Peace]

What does the Sympathetic Nervous system do?

Controls the fight or flight reflex

[Think S for Stress]

Name some characteristics of Autonomic Nervous System

- involuntary
-some inhibition
-some excitation

What is a ganglion?

a group of cell bodies

(think gang=group)

There is a (blank)-neuron organization in the autonomic system

Two

What are the two-nervous organization in the ANS?

1. Preganglionic Neurons
2.Postganglionic Neurons

Where do PREganglionic neurons have cell bodies?

in the Central Nervous System
(think *pre-central)

Where do POSTganglionic neurons have cell bodies?

in the *autonomic* ganglia

Describe the pathway of the Autonomic Nervous System

1. signals from the CNS to a preganglionic Neuron -->
2. sends it to Postganglionic Neuron then
3. sends the signals to the involuntary effector (aka gland or organ)

Name some characteristics about the ANS nerve pathway

- has 2 neuron systems
- 1 synapse

What are the three important concepts within Sympathetic Division? (think hormones and neurotransmitter)

-Norepinephrine
- Epinephrine
- Acetylcholine

What does sympathetic division do?

Prepares the body for intense physical activity in emergency

[think.. division = sport = sport is intense physical
activity]

How does the sympathetic division prepare the body for intense physical activity?

- increased heart rate, blood glucose conc. blood. flow to skeletal muscles
- pupil dilation

What does Parasympathetic Division contain?

Acetylcholine

What does parasympathetic division do?

Causes opposite effects compared to the sympathetic division:
- slowed heart rate
- dilation of visceral organ blood vessels
- increased digestive activity