Lecture 01, 2

• What neurotransmitters are used in the ANS?

  Acetylcholine and noradrenaline
• Why is it important to describe the pharmacology of neurotransmitter pathways in the ANS?

  To understand how they affect body functions
• Why is studying the ANS clinically relevant?

  It plays a crucial role in body functions
• Where does the ANS reside in the context of the nervous system?

  It is a subdivision of the peripheral nervous system

  
• What does each branch of the ANS do?

  Produces different types of physiological effects
• What is the central nervous system (CNS) made up of?

  Brain and spinal cord
• What is the function of the CNS?

  Site of integration in the body
• What is the peripheral nervous system?

  Nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord
• What does the peripheral nervous system connect?

  CNS to limbs and organs
• What types of information does the peripheral nervous system send out?

  Motor information to limbs/internal organs
• What types of sensory information are processed by the peripheral nervous system?

  Pain, touch, temperature, taste, sound
• What is the advantage of the ANS regulating body functions not under conscious control?

  It allows for uninterrupted vital functions
• What is the primary role of the ANS?

  Maintain homeostasis
• What happens to the ANS during stress?

  Activity increases in fight or flight
• What is the "E" division of the ANS?

  Excitation, Exercise, Emergency, and Embarrassment
• What happens to the ANS during rest?

  Activity dominates in rest and digest
• What is the "D" division of the ANS?

  Digestion, Defaecation, Diuresis
• What physiological changes occur during stress?

  Increased heart rate and blood vessel constriction
• What is the housekeeping role of the ANS?

  Priming systems for action
• What is the latency of ANS responses?

  It has a short latency
• Why is endocrine control too slow for rapid physiological adjustments?

  It cannot respond quickly enough
• What are the main effects of the ANS?

  Regulates involuntary body functions
• What nerves are associated with the sympathetic division?

  Spinal column nerves (lumbar)
• What nerves are associated with the parasympathetic division?

  Brain stem nerves
• Where do parasympathetic ganglia reside?

  In the target organ
• How do the lengths of pre-ganglionic and post-ganglionic fibers differ?

  Short pre-ganglionic and long post-ganglionic in sympathetic
• Where do sympathetic ganglia lie?

  Close to the CNS
• What is the craniosacral outflow?

  Parasympathetic division's nerve outflow
• What is the most important cranial nerve in the parasympathetic system?

  The vagus nerve (Xth cranial nerve)
• What does the sacral outflow innervate?

  Lower gut and pelvic genitourinary organs
• What is the thoracolumbar system?

  Sympathetic division's nerve system
• What does the sympathetic division innervate?

  Every organ in the body
• What physiological responses occur when nervous or frightened?

  Increased heart rate and sweating
• What types of muscle does the ANS target?

  Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
• What is the role of the adrenal medulla in the sympathetic nervous system?

  Releases adrenaline and noradrenaline into bloodstream
• What is the structure of the ANS?

  Two-neuron chain in efferent pathway
• What happens during synapses in the ANS?

  Pre-ganglionic fiber synapses with post-ganglionic fiber
• What types of fibers are present in the ANS?

  Preganglionic and postganglionic fibers
• How do the pre-ganglionic fibers differ in the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems?

  Short in sympathetic, long in parasympathetic
• What is the role of cholinergic neurons in the adrenal medulla?

  Innervate adrenal medulla cells to release hormones