Key Terms in Autonomic Nervous System Function

acetylcholine (ACh)

neurotransmitter that binds at a motor end-plate to trigger depolarization

adrenal medulla

interior portion of the adrenal (or suprarenal) gland that releases epinephrine and norepinephrine into the bloodstream as hormones

adrenergic

synapse where norepinephrine is released, which binds to α- or β-adrenergic receptors

afferent branch

component of a reflex arc that represents the input from a sensory neuron, for either a special or general sense

agonist

any exogenous substance that binds to a receptor and produces a similar effect to the endogenous ligand

alpha (α)-adrenergic receptor

one of the receptors to which epinephrine and norepinephrine bind, which comes in two subtypes: α1 and α2

antagonist

any exogenous substance that binds to a receptor and produces an opposing effect to the endogenous ligand

anticholinergic drugs

drugs that interrupt or reduce the function of the parasympathetic system

autonomic tone

tendency of an organ system to be governed by one division of the autonomic nervous system over the other, such as heart rate being lowered by parasympathetic input at rest

baroreceptor

mechanoreceptor that senses the stretch of blood vessels to indicate changes in blood pressure

beta (β)-adrenergic receptor

one of the receptors to which epinephrine and norepinephrine bind, which comes in three subtypes: β1, β2, and β3

cardiac accelerator nerves

preganglionic sympathetic fibers that cause the heart rate to increase when the cardiovascular center in the medulla initiates a signal

cardiovascular center

region in the medulla that controls the cardiovascular system through cardiac accelerator nerves and vasomotor nerves, which are components of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system

celiac ganglion

one of the collateral ganglia of the sympathetic system that projects to the digestive system

central neuron

specifically referring to the cell body of a neuron in the autonomic system that is located in the central nervous system, specifically the lateral horn of the spinal cord or a brain stem nucleus

cholinergic

synapse at which acetylcholine is released and binds to the nicotinic or muscarinic receptor

chromaffin cells

neuroendocrine cells of the adrenal medulla that release epinephrine and norepinephrine into the bloodstream as part of sympathetic system activity

ciliary ganglion

one of the terminal ganglia of the parasympathetic system, located in the posterior orbit, axons from which project to the iris

collateral ganglia

ganglia outside of the sympathetic chain that are targets of sympathetic preganglionic fibers, which are the celiac, inferior mesenteric, and superior mesenteric ganglia

craniosacral system

alternate name for the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system that is based on the anatomical location of central neurons in brain-stem nuclei and the lateral horn of the sacral spinal cord; also referred to as craniosacral outflow

dorsal longitudinal fasciculus

major output pathway of the hypothalamus that descends through the gray matter of the brain stem and into the spinal cord

dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve

location of parasympathetic neurons that project through the vagus nerve to terminal ganglia in the thoracic and abdominal cavities

Edinger-Westphal nucleus

location of parasympathetic neurons that project to the ciliary ganglion

efferent branch

component of a reflex arc that represents the output, with the target being an organ or muscle

effector

output, with the target being an effector, such as muscle or glandular tissue

endogenous

describes substance made in the human body

endogenous chemical

substance produced and released within the body to interact with a receptor protein

epinephrine

signaling molecule released from the adrenal medulla into the bloodstream as part of the sympathetic response

exogenous

describes substance made outside of the human body

exogenous chemical

substance from a source outside the body, whether it be another organism such as a plant or from the synthetic processes of a laboratory, that binds to a transmembrane receptor protein

fight-or-flight response

set of responses induced by sympathetic activity that lead to either fleeing a threat or standing up to it, which in the modern world is often associated with anxious feelings

G protein-coupled receptor

membrane protein complex that consists of a receptor protein that binds to a signaling molecule—a G protein—that is activated by that binding and in turn activates an effector protein (enzyme) that creates a second-messenger molecule in the cytoplasm of the target cell

ganglionic neuron

specifically refers to the cell body of a neuron in the autonomic system that is located in a ganglion

gray rami communicantes

unmyelinated structures that provide a short connection from a sympathetic chain ganglion to the spinal nerve that contains the postganglionic sympathetic fiber

greater splanchnic nerve

nerve that contains fibers of the central sympathetic neurons that do not synapse in the chain ganglia but project onto the celiac ganglion

inferior mesenteric ganglion

one of the collateral ganglia of the sympathetic system that projects to the digestive system

intramural ganglia

terminal ganglia of the parasympathetic system that are found within the walls of the target effector

lesser splanchnic nerve

nerve that contains fibers of the central sympathetic neurons that do not synapse in the chain ganglia but project onto the inferior mesenteric ganglion

ligand-gated cation channel

ion channel, such as the nicotinic receptor, that is specific to positively charged ions and opens when a molecule such as a neurotransmitter binds to it

limbic lobe

structures arranged around the edges of the cerebrum that are involved in memory and emotion

long reflex

reflex arc that includes the central nervous system

medial forebrain bundle

fiber pathway that extends anteriorly into the basal forebrain, passes through the hypothalamus, and extends into the brain stem and spinal cord

mesenteric plexus

nervous tissue within the wall of the digestive tract that contains neurons that are the targets of autonomic preganglionic fibers and that project to the smooth muscle and glandular tissues in the digestive organ

muscarinic receptor

type of acetylcholine receptor protein that is characterized by also binding to muscarine and is a metabotropic receptor

mydriasis

dilation of the pupil; typically the result of disease, trauma, or drugs

nicotinic receptor

type of acetylcholine receptor protein that is characterized by also binding to nicotine and is an ionotropic receptor

norepinephrine

signaling molecule released as a neurotransmitter by most postganglionic sympathetic fibers as part of the sympathetic response, or as a hormone into the bloodstream from the adrenal medulla

nucleus ambiguus

brain-stem nucleus that...

adrenal medulla

nucleus ambiguus brain-stem nucleus that contains neurons that project through the vagus nerve to terminal ganglia in the thoracic cavity; specifically associated with the heart

parasympathetic division

division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for restful and digestive functions

parasympathomimetic drugs

drugs that enhance or mimic the function of the parasympathetic system

paravertebral ganglia

autonomic ganglia superior to the sympathetic chain ganglia

postganglionic fiber

axon from a ganglionic neuron in the autonomic nervous system that projects to and synapses with the target effector; sometimes referred to as a postganglionic neuron

preganglionic fiber

axon from a central neuron in the autonomic nervous system that projects to and synapses with a ganglionic neuron; sometimes referred to as a preganglionic neuron

prevertebral ganglia

autonomic ganglia that are anterior to the vertebral column and functionally related to the sympathetic chain ganglia

referred pain

the conscious perception of visceral sensation projected to a different region of the body, such as the left shoulder and arm pain as a sign for a heart attack

reflex arc

circuit of a reflex that involves a sensory input and motor output, or an afferent branch and an efferent branch, and an integrating center to connect the two branches

rest and digest

set of functions associated with the parasympathetic system that lead to restful actions and digestion

short reflex

reflex arc that does not include any components of the central nervous system

somatic reflex

reflex involving skeletal muscle as the effector, under the control of the somatic nervous system

superior cervical ganglion

one of the paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic system that projects to the head

superior mesenteric ganglion

one of the collateral ganglia of the sympathetic system that projects to the digestive system

sympathetic chain ganglia

series of ganglia adjacent to the vertebral column that receive input from central sympathetic neurons

sympathetic division

division of the autonomic nervous system associated with the fight-or-flight response

sympatholytic drug

drug that interrupts, or 'lyses,' the function of the sympathetic system

sympathomimetic drug

drug that enhances or mimics the function of the sympathetic system

target

effector organ, tissue, or gland that will respond to the control of an autonomic or somatic or endocrine signal

terminal ganglia

ganglia of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic system, which are located near or within the target effector, the latter also known as intramural ganglia

thoracolumbar system

alternate name for the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system that is based on the anatomical location of central neurons in the lateral horn of the thoracic and upper lumbar spinal cord

varicosity

structure of some autonomic connections that is not a typical synaptic end bulb, but a string of swellings along the length of a fiber that makes a network of connections with the target effector

vasomotor nerves

preganglionic sympathetic fibers that cause the constriction of blood vessels in response to signals from the cardiovascular center

visceral reflex

reflex involving an internal organ as the effector, under the control of the autonomic nervous system

white rami communicantes

myelinated structures that provide a short connection from a sympathetic chain ganglion to the spinal nerve that contains the preganglionic sympathetic fiber