Autonomic Nervous System

Somatic versus Autonomic Pathways
Autonomic NS: Visceral Reflexes
• Target organs are glands, cardiac & smooth

muscle
• Receptors detect internal stimuli -- stretch, etc
– baroreceptors detect BP, CN IX send signals to
medulla, CN X sends signals to heart to reduce BP
• ANS is the efferent neurons of these reflex arcs
– 2 neurons span the distance from CNS to effectors
• presynaptic neuron cell body in CNS -- brain or spinal
cord
• postsynaptic neuron cell body in peripheral ganglion
– ANS modifies effector activity rather than causing it
• smooth & cardiac muscle show denervation hypertrophy
Autonomic Reflex Arc
Central Control of Autonomic Function
• ANS is regulated by several levels of the CNS

– cerebral cortex
• influenced by our emotions
– hypothalamus
• fight or flight responses originate here
– reticular formation
• can respond directly to sensory input from cardiac,
vasomotor, & GI tract
– spinal cord
• defecation & micturition reflexes are integrated in the
spinal cord
20.1 Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the visceral motor system. (Part 1)
20.1 Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the visceral motor system. (Part 2)
20.2 Organization of the preganglionic spinal outflow to sympathetic ganglia. (Part 1)
20.2 Organization of the preganglionic spinal outflow to sympathetic ganglia. (Part 2)
20.3 Organization of the preganglionic outflow to parasympathetic ganglia. (Part 1)
20.4 Organization of the enteric component of the visceral motor system. (Part 1)
20.4 Organization of the enteric component of the visceral motor system. (Part 2)
20.5 Distribution of visceral sensory information by the nucleus of the solitary tract.
20.6 Organization of sensory input to the visceral motor system.
20.7 A central autonomic network for the control of visceral motor function.
Box A The Hypothalamus (Part 1)
Box B Horner’s Syndrome (Part 1)
Box B Horner’s Syndrome (Part 2)
Box C Obesity and the Brain
20.8 Autonomic control of cardiovascular function.
20.9 Autonomic control of bladder function.
20.10 Autonomic control of sexual function in the human male.
Adrenal Glands
• Paired glands sit on superior pole of each kidney

• Cortex
– secretes steroid hormone
• Medulla
– modified sympathetic ganglion that secretes
neurotransmitters (hormones) into blood and not onto
other neurons
• 85% epinephrine & 15% norepinephrine
– complementary involvement in mass activation that
occurs during fight or flight reaction
Neurotransmitters & Receptors
• Cholinergic fibers secrete ACh while adrenergic

fibers secrete NE
– only postganglionic sympathetic fibers are adrenergic
Cholinergic Receptors
• Acetylcholine binds to 2 classes of receptors

– nicotinic receptors
• occur on all ANS postganglionic neurons, adrenal
medulla, on skeletal muscle
• excitatory when ACh binding occurs
– muscarinic receptors
• occur on all gland, smooth muscle & cardiac muscle
that receives cholinergic innervation
• either excitatory or inhibitory when ACh binding
occurs
Adrenergic Receptors
• 2 categories of NE receptors
– alpha adrenergic receptors
• NE binding is excitatory
– beta adrenergic receptors
• NE binding is inhibitory
• existence of subclasses of each receptor type
• alpha 1 and 2; beta 1 and 2
• Function by means of 2nd messengers
– beta receptors activate cyclic AMP, alphas2
receptors suppress it and alpha1 receptors use
calcium
Dual Innervation
• Most of viscera receive nerve fibers from both parasympathetic

& sympathetic divisions
– antagonistic effects oppose each other
• exerted through dual innervation of same effector cells
– heart slowed down or speeded up
• exerted because each division innervates different cells
– pupillary dilator muscle & constrictor pupillae change
pupil size
– cooperative effects seen when 2 divisions act on different
effectors to produce a unified effect (salivation)
• parasympathetic NS increases salivary serous cell
secretion
• sympathetic NS increases salivary mucous cell secretion
• Both divisions do not innervate an organ equally
Control Without Dual Innervation
• Adrenal medulla, arrector pili muscles, sweat glands &

many blood vessels receive only sympathetic fibers
• Sympathetic tone is a baseline firing frequency
• provides partial constriction called vasomotor tone
– increase in firing frequency = vasoconstriction
– decrease in firing frequency = vasodilation
• Vasomotor tone can shift blood flow from one organ to
another according to changing needs
– sympathetic stimulation increases blood to skeletal &
cardiac muscles -- reduced blood to skin
Neuropharmacology & Psychopharmacology
• Sympathomimetics enhance sympathetic activity
– stimulate receptors or norepinephrine release
• Sympatholytics suppress sympathetic activity
– inhibit norepinephrine release or block receptors
• Parasympathomimetics enhance activity while
Parasympatholytics suppress activity

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Somatic versus Autonomic Pathways

Autonomic NS: Visceral Reflexes

• Target organs are glands, cardiac & smooth

• ANS is regulated by several levels of the CNS

• Paired glands sit on superior pole of each kidney

• Cholinergic fibers secrete ACh while adrenergic

• Acetylcholine binds to 2 classes of receptors

• Most of viscera receive nerve fibers from both parasympathetic

• Adrenal medulla, arrector pili muscles, sweat glands &

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