Ch. 15 Autonomic Nervous System

General Organization

1. The autonomic nervous system primarily controls:
   A) Skeletal muscles
   B) Cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands
   C) Only involuntary reflexes
   D) Only the digestive system

2. Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for "rest and digest" functions?
   A) Somatic motor division
   B) Sympathetic division
   C) Parasympathetic division
   D) Enteric nervous system

Sympathetic Division

3. The sympathetic division originates from which regions of the spinal cord?
   A) Cervical and sacral
   B) Thoracic and lumbar
   C) Brainstem and sacral
   D) Lumbar and sacral

4. Which of the following is a special case in the sympathetic division, where preganglionic fibers directly synapse onto the target?
   A) Adrenal medulla
   B) Sweat glands
   C) Salivary glands
   D) Pupil

5. What is the function of the sympathetic chain ganglia?
   A) They store neurotransmitters for later use
   B) They allow for widespread sympathetic responses by connecting to multiple spinal levels
   C) They regulate voluntary movement of skeletal muscles
   D) They control only digestive organs

6. Which type of sympathetic connection describes a preganglionic fiber that synapses at a different level than its origin?
   A) Direct connection
   B) Chain connection
   C) Splanchnic connection
   D) Terminal connection

Parasympathetic Division

7. The cranial component of the parasympathetic nervous system includes which cranial nerves?
   A) CN I, II, III, IV
   B) CN V, VI, VII, IX
   C) CN III, VII, IX, X
   D) CN IX, X, XI, XII

8. Which nerve is the major parasympathetic nerve responsible for innervating thoracic and abdominal organs?
   A) Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
   B) Facial nerve (CN VII)
   C) Vagus nerve (CN X)
   D) Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

9. The glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) controls which gland?
   A) Lacrimal gland
   B) Submandibular gland
   C) Parotid gland
   D) Adrenal gland

10. Which of the following is a function of the oculomotor nerve (CN III) in the autonomic nervous system?
    A) Pupil constriction
    B) Increasing heart rate
    C) Stimulating digestion
    D) Vasodilation in muscles

Chemical Signaling

11. All preganglionic autonomic neurons release which neurotransmitter?
    A) Norepinephrine
    B) Acetylcholine
    C) Dopamine
    D) Epinephrine

12. Postganglionic sympathetic neurons primarily release:
    A) Acetylcholine
    B) Serotonin
    C) Norepinephrine
    D) Glutamate

13. Which receptors are activated by acetylcholine on postganglionic neurons?
    A) Adrenergic receptors
    B) Nicotinic receptors
    C) Muscarinic receptors
    D) Beta receptors

14. Sympathetic fibers that innervate sweat glands are unique because they release:
    A) Norepinephrine onto adrenergic receptors
    B) Acetylcholine onto nicotinic receptors
    C) Acetylcholine onto muscarinic receptors
    D) Dopamine onto beta receptors

Autonomic Reflexes

15. Which of the following best describes an autonomic (visceral) reflex?
    A) Involves only a single synapse
    B) Includes an additional synapse at an autonomic ganglion
    C) Is entirely controlled by the cerebral cortex
    D) Is identical to a somatic reflex

16. The heart at rest is primarily under the influence of:
    A) Sympathetic tone
    B) Parasympathetic tone
    C) Both sympathetic and parasympathetic equally
    D) No autonomic influence

17. What type of autonomic reflex bypasses the central nervous system and is entirely processed in peripheral ganglia?
    A) Long reflex
    B) Short reflex
    C) Somatic reflex
    D) Voluntary reflex

Central Control and Pharmacology

18. Which brain structure is the primary integrative center for autonomic nervous system control?
    A) Pons
    B) Hypothalamus
    C) Medulla oblongata
    D) Thalamus

19. Which type of drug would enhance sympathetic function?
    A) Sympatholytic
    B) Parasympatholytic
    C) Sympathomimetic
    D) Anticholinergic

20. Beta-blockers are an example of which type of drug?
    A) Sympathomimetic
    B) Sympatholytic
    C) Parasympathomimetic
    D) AnticholinergicAnswer Key

    1. B

    2. C

    3. B

    4. A

    5. B

    6. B

    7. C

    8. C

    9. C

    10. A

    11. B

    12. C

    13. B

    14. C

    15. B

    16. B

    17. B

    18. B

    19. C

    20. B