AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Peripheral nervous system

Autonomic nerve pathway

Two-neuron chain

Sympathetic & parasympathetic nerve pathways

Sympathetic nerve fibers originate in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord preganglionic fibers are very short, synapsing at Sympathetic ganglion chain Or pass to collateral ganglion

Parasympathetic preganglionic fibers arise from the cranial (brain) and sacral (lower spinal cord) areas of the CNS preganglionic fibers are long, end at terminal ganglia

All preganglionic fibers release Ach Sympathetic postganglionic fibers release NE/E mainly Parasympathetic postganglionic fibers release Ach

Postganglionic nerve terminals

Dual innervation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems generally exert opposite effects in a particular organ
Both systems increase the activity of some organs and reduce the activity of others. Usually both systems are partially active; sympathetic or parasympathetic tone or tonic activity, but activity of one division can dominate the other

Dual innervation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Advantage of dual autonomic innervation

Enables precise control over an organs activity

Sympathetic dominance
Fight-or-flight response in emergency or stressful situations, such as a physical threat from the outside
o o o o o Heart: beats more rapidly and more forcefully, Blood pressure is elevated by generalized constriction of the blood vessels, Respiratory airways open wide to permit maximal air flow, Glycogen (stored sugar) and fat stores are broken down to release extra fuel into the blood, Blood vessels supplying skeletal muscles dilate (open more widely).

Providing increased flow of oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to the skeletal muscles in anticipation of strenuous physical activity. Furthermore, o The pupils dilate and the eyes adjust for far vision, letting the person visually assess the entire threatening scene. o Sweating is promoted in anticipation of excess heat production by the physical exertion. Inhibition of digestive and urinary activities; not essential in meeting the threat,

Parasympathetic dominance

Rest-and-digest in quiet, relaxed situations

The adrenal medulla

Cortex Medulla

The adrenal medulla

Receptor types for autonomic neurotransmitters

Specific neurotransmitter action results from specificity of receptors

Cholinergic receptors
Nicotinic receptors: found on the postganglionic cell bodies in all autonomic ganglia Muscarinic receptors: found on effector cell membranes (smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands).

Adrenergic receptors
Found on effector cell membranes 1. alpha ():
o 1/2 NE > E

2. beta ()
o 1 NE = E o 2 E > NE

Adrenergic receptors
o o o o 1 Excitatory; e.g., arteriolar constriction 2 Inhibitory; e.g., GI smooth muscle 1 Excitatory; e.g., increased rate and force of cardiac contraction 2 Inhibitory; e.g., arteriolar & bronchiolar

Autonomic agonists and antagonists

Agonist
Binds with a neurotransmitters receptor and elicits an effect that mimics that of the neurotransmitter.

Antagonist
Binds with a neurotransmitters receptor and blocks the neurotransmitters response.

Autonomic agonists and antagonists

Atropine
o Blocks the effect of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors but does not affect nicotinic receptors o Suppresses salivary and bronchial secretions before surgery, to reduce the risk of a patient inhaling these secretions into the lungs

Autonomic agonists and antagonists

Salbutamol
o Selectively activates 2 adrenergic receptors at low doses o Dilate the bronchioles in the treatment of asthma without undesirably stimulating the heart

Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic

SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Somatic nervous system

Somatic nervous system

Composed of the axons of the motor neurons which innervate skeletal muscles Motor neurons:
The cell bodies are within the spinal cord, except motor neurons supplying muscles in the head (in the brain stem) Release acetylcholine Can only stimulate skeletal muscles (no inhibition)

Motor neurons
The dendrites and cell bodies are influenced by many converging presynaptic inputs, both excitatory (EPSP) and inhibitory (IPSP). The level of activity in a motor neuron and its subsequent output to the skeletal muscle fibers it innervates depend on the relative balance of EPSPs and IPSPs

Motor neurons are considered the final common pathway, because the only way any other parts of the nervous system can influence skeletal muscle activity is by acting on these motor neurons.

 The somatic system is under voluntary control

However, much of the skeletal muscle activity involving posture, balance, and stereotypical movements is subconsciously controlled

Neuromuscular junction
Axon of motor neuron Synaptic vesicles Axon of motor neuron Terminal button

Neuromuscular junction

motor end plate

Neuromuscular junction
Nerve and muscle cells do not actually come into direct contact at a neuromuscular junction
The space, or cleft, between these two structures is too large to permit electrical transmission of an impulse between them The chemical messenger is acetylcholine (ACh.)

Events at a neuromuscular junction

Neuromuscular junction
Black widow spider venom: Triggering explosive release of ACh from the storage vesicles Botulinum toxin: Blocking the release of ACh from the terminal button Curare Reversibly binds to the ACh receptor sites on the motor end plate Does not alter membrane permeability, nor is it inactivated by AChE Myasthenia gravis Autoimmune disease produces antibodies against its own motor end-plate ACh receptors Organophosphates Irreversibly inhibiting AChE