MEDC0013 - Autonomic Exam Study Guide
autonomic nervous system - ANSWER A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system.
Controls involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.
bodily functions of autonomic nervous system - ANSWER heartbeat
blood pressure
airway resistance
urination
pupillary response
genital erection
digestive motility + secretion
What do the efferent neurones control with regards to the autonomic nervous system? -
ANSWER the sympathetic and parasympathetic response
The sympathetic efferent neurones originate from where? - ANSWER the spinal roots
T1-L3
The parasympathetic efferent neurones originate from where? - ANSWER the cranial
nerves and spinal roots S2-S4
sympathetic nervous system - ANSWER fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system - ANSWER rest and digest
Afferent ANS - ANSWER not divided into para/sympathetic
- autonomic sensory information conducted by general visceral afferent fibres
autonomic gangion - ANSWER
Where can the cell bodies be found for the pre-ganglionic sympathetic neurones? -
ANSWER in the lumbar and thoracic spinal cord
Where does the pre-ganglionic nerve fibre synapse with the post-ganglionic neurone in
the sympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER either just outside the spinal cord (in the
paravertebral chains) or in the midline (the pre-vertebral ganglia)
Where do the parasympathetic ganglia lie? - ANSWER close to the target sites or in the
target organ
What type of response do the parasympathetic post-ganglionic fibres have? - ANSWER a
, localised response
enteric nervous system - ANSWER a division of the autonomic nervous system
consisting of nerve cells embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system
controls secretion and motility within the Gi tract
What triggers the enteric nervous system? what does this control? - ANSWER triggered
by food, it controls the motor functions;
local blood flow, mucosal transport and secretions, and modulates immune and
endocrine functions.
What is the efferent neurones main neurotransmitter? - ANSWER acetylcholine
What breaks down acetylcholine? - ANSWER Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
what synthesises ACh - ANSWER choline acetyltransferase
How is acetylcholine released? - ANSWER calcium dependent exocytosis
ACh synthesis - ANSWER
What 2 types of receptors does acetylcholine have? - ANSWER 1. nicotinic
2. muscarinic
adrenergic receptors - ANSWER receptor sites for the sympathetic neurotransmitters
noradrenaline and adrenaline
Where are the cell bodies of noraadrenergic neurones mainly found? - ANSWER in the
pons specifically the locus coeruleus
locus coeruleus - ANSWER area of the brainstem that contains norepinephrine,
autonomic nervous system - ANSWER A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system.
Controls involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.
bodily functions of autonomic nervous system - ANSWER heartbeat
blood pressure
airway resistance
urination
pupillary response
genital erection
digestive motility + secretion
What do the efferent neurones control with regards to the autonomic nervous system? -
ANSWER the sympathetic and parasympathetic response
The sympathetic efferent neurones originate from where? - ANSWER the spinal roots
T1-L3
The parasympathetic efferent neurones originate from where? - ANSWER the cranial
nerves and spinal roots S2-S4
sympathetic nervous system - ANSWER fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system - ANSWER rest and digest
Afferent ANS - ANSWER not divided into para/sympathetic
- autonomic sensory information conducted by general visceral afferent fibres
autonomic gangion - ANSWER
Where can the cell bodies be found for the pre-ganglionic sympathetic neurones? -
ANSWER in the lumbar and thoracic spinal cord
Where does the pre-ganglionic nerve fibre synapse with the post-ganglionic neurone in
the sympathetic nervous system? - ANSWER either just outside the spinal cord (in the
paravertebral chains) or in the midline (the pre-vertebral ganglia)
Where do the parasympathetic ganglia lie? - ANSWER close to the target sites or in the
target organ
What type of response do the parasympathetic post-ganglionic fibres have? - ANSWER a
, localised response
enteric nervous system - ANSWER a division of the autonomic nervous system
consisting of nerve cells embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system
controls secretion and motility within the Gi tract
What triggers the enteric nervous system? what does this control? - ANSWER triggered
by food, it controls the motor functions;
local blood flow, mucosal transport and secretions, and modulates immune and
endocrine functions.
What is the efferent neurones main neurotransmitter? - ANSWER acetylcholine
What breaks down acetylcholine? - ANSWER Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
what synthesises ACh - ANSWER choline acetyltransferase
How is acetylcholine released? - ANSWER calcium dependent exocytosis
ACh synthesis - ANSWER
What 2 types of receptors does acetylcholine have? - ANSWER 1. nicotinic
2. muscarinic
adrenergic receptors - ANSWER receptor sites for the sympathetic neurotransmitters
noradrenaline and adrenaline
Where are the cell bodies of noraadrenergic neurones mainly found? - ANSWER in the
pons specifically the locus coeruleus
locus coeruleus - ANSWER area of the brainstem that contains norepinephrine,
