PMCOL 343- ANS I EXAM STUDY
GUIDE
What are the 3 divisions of the peripheral nervous system - Answer Autonomic, somatic,
and visceral
What are the 3 divisions of the autonomic nervous system - Answer Sympathetic,
parasympathetic, and enteric
What happens to the eyes during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = pupils dilate
Parasympathetic = pupils constrict
What happens to the mouth during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = inhibits salivation
Parasympathetic = stimulates salivation
What happens to heart the during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = heart rate increases
Parasympathetic = heart rate decreases
What happens to the lungs during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = relaxes airways
Parasympathetic = constricts airways
What happens to the GIT during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation - Answer
Sympathetic = stops blood flow to GIT
Parasympathetic = promotes blood flow to GIT
What happens to the liver during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation - Answer
Sympathetic = stimulates glucose release / production
Parasympathetic = stimulates bile release
What happens to the bladder during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = inhibits bladder contraction (peeing impossible)
Parasympathetic = contracts bladder (peeing possible)
What division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for stimulating an orgasm
- Answer The sympathetic division
, What division of the spine is the sympathetic system - Answer Thoracolumbar (T1-L2)
What division of the spine is the parasympathetic system - Answer Craniosacral (cranial
+ sacral regions)
Describe how a somatic nerve is different than a autonomic nerve - Answer A somatic
nerve goes straight from the CNS to the effector, whereas the autonomic nerves
participate in ganglionic synapses (1 exception)
What is the one exception of an autonomic nerve that directly innervates its target tissue
- Answer The adrenal medulla is innervated directly by an autonomic fibre
What is the neurotransmitter released by ALL preganglionic nerves - Answer
Acetylcholine
What is the neurotransmitter released by most sympathetic post ganglionic nerves -
Answer Norepinephrine
What is the one exception to norepinephrine being released by the post ganglionic
nerve; what is the target tissue in this exception - Answer Sweat glands are innervated
by acetylcholine instead of norepinephrine
Describe the general nerve sequence and neurotransmitters involved for a
parasympathetic response - Answer CNS o---< ACh o---< ACh
What are the receptors involved in a parasympathetic response - Answer Nicotinic
receptor in the preganglionic synapse, muscarinic receptors in the postganglionic
synapse
Describe the general nerve sequence and neurotransmitters involved for a sympathetic
response (not for sweat glands or adrenal medulla) - Answer CNS o---< ACh o---< NE
What receptors are involved in a sympathetic response (not for sweat glands or adrenal
medulla) - Answer Nicotinic receptors in the preganglionic synapse, norepinephrine in
the post ganglionic synapse
What receptors are used for the 2 exceptions of the sympathetic response - Answer
Muscarinic receptors for the postganglionic synapse for sweat glands, nicotinic
receptors for the adrenal medulla
What arrangement do the sympathetic ganglia lie in - Answer Paravertebral sympathetic
chains
Describe how chromaffin cells are innervated by the SNS - Answer The SNS innervates
the adrenal medulla directly, using ACh, to promote the release of catecholamines, such
as norepinephrine and epinephrine
What does the term diffuse system refer to in the autonomic system - Answer The
effects of the system are not limited to specific areas, but have more widespread or
GUIDE
What are the 3 divisions of the peripheral nervous system - Answer Autonomic, somatic,
and visceral
What are the 3 divisions of the autonomic nervous system - Answer Sympathetic,
parasympathetic, and enteric
What happens to the eyes during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = pupils dilate
Parasympathetic = pupils constrict
What happens to the mouth during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = inhibits salivation
Parasympathetic = stimulates salivation
What happens to heart the during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = heart rate increases
Parasympathetic = heart rate decreases
What happens to the lungs during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = relaxes airways
Parasympathetic = constricts airways
What happens to the GIT during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation - Answer
Sympathetic = stops blood flow to GIT
Parasympathetic = promotes blood flow to GIT
What happens to the liver during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation - Answer
Sympathetic = stimulates glucose release / production
Parasympathetic = stimulates bile release
What happens to the bladder during sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation -
Answer Sympathetic = inhibits bladder contraction (peeing impossible)
Parasympathetic = contracts bladder (peeing possible)
What division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for stimulating an orgasm
- Answer The sympathetic division
, What division of the spine is the sympathetic system - Answer Thoracolumbar (T1-L2)
What division of the spine is the parasympathetic system - Answer Craniosacral (cranial
+ sacral regions)
Describe how a somatic nerve is different than a autonomic nerve - Answer A somatic
nerve goes straight from the CNS to the effector, whereas the autonomic nerves
participate in ganglionic synapses (1 exception)
What is the one exception of an autonomic nerve that directly innervates its target tissue
- Answer The adrenal medulla is innervated directly by an autonomic fibre
What is the neurotransmitter released by ALL preganglionic nerves - Answer
Acetylcholine
What is the neurotransmitter released by most sympathetic post ganglionic nerves -
Answer Norepinephrine
What is the one exception to norepinephrine being released by the post ganglionic
nerve; what is the target tissue in this exception - Answer Sweat glands are innervated
by acetylcholine instead of norepinephrine
Describe the general nerve sequence and neurotransmitters involved for a
parasympathetic response - Answer CNS o---< ACh o---< ACh
What are the receptors involved in a parasympathetic response - Answer Nicotinic
receptor in the preganglionic synapse, muscarinic receptors in the postganglionic
synapse
Describe the general nerve sequence and neurotransmitters involved for a sympathetic
response (not for sweat glands or adrenal medulla) - Answer CNS o---< ACh o---< NE
What receptors are involved in a sympathetic response (not for sweat glands or adrenal
medulla) - Answer Nicotinic receptors in the preganglionic synapse, norepinephrine in
the post ganglionic synapse
What receptors are used for the 2 exceptions of the sympathetic response - Answer
Muscarinic receptors for the postganglionic synapse for sweat glands, nicotinic
receptors for the adrenal medulla
What arrangement do the sympathetic ganglia lie in - Answer Paravertebral sympathetic
chains
Describe how chromaffin cells are innervated by the SNS - Answer The SNS innervates
the adrenal medulla directly, using ACh, to promote the release of catecholamines, such
as norepinephrine and epinephrine
What does the term diffuse system refer to in the autonomic system - Answer The
effects of the system are not limited to specific areas, but have more widespread or
