Autonomic Nervous System

Neural Control of Involuntary

Effectors

ANS:
 Innervates organs not usually under voluntary
control.
 Effectors include cardiac and smooth muscles
and glands.
 Effectors are part of visceral organs and blood
vessels.
 Effectors

► The effectors of the

SNS are skeletal
Muscles

► The effectors of the

ANS are cardiac
muscle, smooth
muscle, and glands
 Autonomic Neurons

 2 neurons in the effector pathway.

 1st neuron has its cell body in gray
matter of brain or spinal cord.
– Preganglionic neuron.
 Synapses with 2nd neuron within an
autonomic ganglion which extends to
synapse with effector organ.
– Postganglionic neuron.
 Autonomic Neurons

 Autonomic ganglia are located in the

head, neck, and abdomen.
 Presynaptic neuron myelinated and
postsynaptic neuron unmyelinated.
Morphological characteristics of ANS
 Autonomic nervous system

Parasympathetics Sympathetics
• Ganglia close to • Ganglia close to
innervated organs spinal cord
• Myelinated axons • Preganglionic
axons myelinated
• Postganglionic non-
myelinated
 Sympathetic Division

►Also known as
The Thoracolumbar Division
T1 through L2
►More complex
►Consists of a
Chain of ganglia
 Sympathetic Division
 Myelinated preganglionic exit
spinal cord in ventral roots at T1
to L2 levels.
 Travel to ganglia at different
levels to synapse with
postganglionic neurons.
 Divergence:
– Preganglionic fibers branch to
synapse with numerous
postganglionic neurons.
 Convergence:
– Postganglionic neuron receives
synaptic input from large # of
preganglionic fibers.
 Sympathetic Chain Ganglion
► Located on either side of spinal
cord
► Extends from base of skull to
coccyx
► 23 arranged segmentally in
each trunk
 3 cervical,
 11 thoracic,
 4 lumbar,
 4 sacral and
 1 coccygeal.

► Rami communicans attach

chain to spinal
 Sympathetic Division
► “Fight-or-flight” system
► Release of norepinephrine from postganglionic
fibers and epinephrine from adrenal medulla.
► Excitatory effect in all areas except digestive
organs
► Promotes adjustments during exercise
 Blood flow to organs is reduced, flow to
muscles is increased
► Prepares the body for emergency situations
– Heart rate increases.
– Bronchioles dilate.
– Breathing is rapid and deep
– [glucose] increases.
 Parasympathetic Division

► Also known as Craniosacral Division

► Concerned with keeping body energy
use low (“housekeeping”)
 Its activity is illustrated in a person
who is in a relaxed state
 Blood pressure, heart rate, and
respiratory
rates are low
 Gastrointestinal tract activity is high
► Inhibitory effect
 Parasympathetic Division
 Preganglionic fibers originate
in midbrain, medulla, and
pons; and in the 2-4 sacral
levels of the spinal cord.
 Preganglionic fibers synapse in
ganglia located next to or
within organs innervated.
 Do not travel within spinal
nerves.
– Do not innervate blood vessels,
sweat glands,and arrector pili
muscles.
 Parasympathetic Division
 4 of 12 pairs of cranial nerves contain
preganglionic parasympathetic fibers.
 Preganglionic fibers are long, postganglionic
fibers are short.
 Parasympathetic Division
Cranial Outflow
►Oculomotor (III):
Smooth muscles of eye
►Facial (VII):
Facial muscles
Facial glands
►Lacrimal
►Salivary
 Cranial Outflow
► Glossopharyngeal (IX)
Salivary glands
►Vagus (X)
Postganglionic fibers are in
the target organ.
Parasympathetic fibers
to heart, lungs, bronchi,
stomach, esophagus,liver,
small intestine, pancreas,
kidneys, proximal part of the
large intestine.
 Parasympathetic Division

Sacral Outflow
►Arises from gray matter in
spinal cord segments S2-S4.
►Innervate distal part of large
intestine, bladder, ureters, and
the reproductive organs
 Parasympathetic Effects

 Stimulation of separate parasympathetic

nerves.
 Release ACh.
 Relaxing effects:
– Decrease heart rate (HR).
– Dilate blood vessels.
– Increase GI activity.
Interneuron contacts in sympathetic and
parasympathetic ganglion
 Adrenergic and Cholinergic Synaptic
Transmission

 ACh is neurotransmitter (NT) for all

preganglionic fibers of both sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous systems.
 ACh is NT released by most postganglionic
parasympathetic fibers.
 Transmission at these synapses is termed
cholinergic.
Differences between sympathetic
and parasympathetic divisions
Autonomic nervous system controls physiological arousal
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
division (arousing) division (calming)
Pupils dilate EYES Pupils contract

Decreases SALIVATION Increases

Perspires SKIN Dries

Increases RESPIRATION Decreases

Accelerates HEART Slows

Inhibits DIGESTION Activates

Secrete stress ADRENAL Decrease secretion

hormones GLANDS of stress hormones
 Organs with Dual Innervation
 Most visceral organs receive dual
innervation (innervated by both
sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers).
 Antagonistic effects:
– Actions counteract each other.
 Heart rate.
 Complementary:
– Produce similar effects.
 Salivary gland secretion.
 Cooperative:
– Cooperate to produce a desired effect.
 Micturition.
 Enteral nervous system

 Described 70 years ago, its morphological and

functional study began in 1990.
 The neurons (>100 mill) outnumber those in the
spinal cord.
 Forms extensive network of interconnected
ganglia.
 Structure
 Myenteric plexus
– Between longitudinal and circular muscle layer
in the digestive canal
– From the pharynx to the anus
 Submucosal plexus
– In the submucosal layer of intestines, from the
stomach to the anus
 Ganglia in each plexus are extensively
interconnected neurons
Enteral division
 Function

Controls the activity of gastrointestinal tract in three

ways:
1) Controls peristalsis
2) Modulated blood flow in the intestines
3) Regulates secretion from the intestinal glands

Each activity can be influenced by sympathetic

parasympathetic impulses, but the enteral system
receives own sensory information from the
intestines and can act semiautomatically.
Regulation. Autonomic reflexes
 Control by Higher Brain Centers
 Sensory input transmitted to brain centers that
integrate information.
 Can modify activity of preganglionic autonomic
neurons.
 Medulla:
– Most directly controls activity of autonomic system.
 Hypothalamus:
– Regulates medulla.
 Cerebral cortex and limbic system:
– Responsible for responses to emotion.
Higher centers of autonomic regulation
Responses to Adrenergic Stimulation

 Has both excitatory and inhibitory

effects.
 Responses due to different membrane
receptor proteins.
a1 : constricts vascular smooth muscles
a2 : contraction of smooth muscle
b1 : increases HR and force of contraction
b2 : relaxes bronchial smooth muscles
Responses to Cholinergic Stimulation
 Muscarinic receptors:
– Ach binds to receptor.
– Requires the mediation of G-proteins.
– Beta-gamma complex binds to chemical K+
channel, opening the channel.
 Functions to:
– Decrease HR.
– Decrease force of contraction of the heart.
– Produce bronchiole constriction.
– Increase GI secretions.