Autonomic Nervous System
ANS is the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that
regulates body activities that are generally not under conscious
control
Visceral motor innervates non-skeletal (non-somatic) muscles
Composed of a special group of neurons serving:
◦ Cardiac muscle (the heart)
◦ Smooth muscle (walls of viscera and blood vessels)
◦ Internal organs
◦ Skin
Where they come from
Parasympathetic: Sympathetic:
craniosacral thoracolumbar
4
Autonomic Nervous System
2divisions:
Sympathetic
“Fight or flight”
“E” division
Exercise, excitement,
emergency, and
embarrassment
Parasympathetic
“Rest and digest”
“D” division
Digestion, defecation,
and diuresis
Basic anatomical difference between the motor
pathways of the voluntary somatic nervous system (to
skeletal muscles) and those of the autonomic nervous
system
Axon of 1st (preganglionic) neuron leaves CNS to
synapse with the 2nd (ganglionic) neuron
Axon of 2nd (ganglionic) neuron extends to the organ
it serves
Basic anatomical difference between the motor pathways
of the voluntary somatic nervous system (to skeletal
muscles) and those of the autonomic nervous system
Somatic division:
◦ Cell bodies of motor neurons reside in CNS (brain or
spinal cord)
◦ Their axons (sheathed in spinal nerves) extend all the
way to their skeletal muscles
Autonomic system: chains of two motor neurons
◦ 1st = preganglionic neuron (in brain or cord)
◦ 2nd = gangionic neuron (cell body in ganglion outside
CNS)
◦ Slower because lightly or unmyelinated
Axon of 1st (preganglionic) neuron leaves CNS to
synapse with the 2nd (ganglionic) neuron
Axon of 2nd (ganglionic) neuron extends to the organ it
serves
Chemical or neural transmitter
All preganglionic fibers release
acetylcholine (Ach).
All parasympathetic postganglionic
release Ach.
All sympathetic postganglionic release
noradrenalin except sweat glands & blood
vessels to skeletal muscles
Sympathetic Nervous System
Also calledThoracolumbar system
All preganglionic sympathetic fibers
Arises from lateral horn of spinal cord
Leave the spinal cord with the ventral roots of the spinal
nerve
Cell body located in gray matter from T1-L2
Sympathetic trunk extend the entire length of
spinal cord
Post ganglionic fibers pass to effector organ
• Preganglionic neurons -
• Cholinergic = ( release acetylcholine )
• Postganglionic neurons:
• release norepinepherine at target organs
• ie. Adrenergic
Sympathetic NS Function
“Fear, Flight or Fight”
• The sympathetic system enables the body to be prepared
for fear, flight or fight
• Sympathetic responses include an increase in heart rate,
blood pressure and cardiac output
• Diversion of blood flow from the skin and splanchnic
vessels to those supplying skeletal muscle
• Increased pupil size, bronchiolar dilation, contraction of
sphincters and metabolic changes such as the
mobilisation of fat and glycogen
Sympathetic NS Function
Bronchioles dilate, which allows for greater alveolar
oxygen exchange.
It increases heart rate and the contractility of cardiac cells
(myocytes), thereby providing a mechanism for the
enhanced blood flow to skeletal muscles.
Sympathetic nerves dilate the pupil and relax the lens,
allowing more light to enter the eye.
Sympathetic Nervous System
All preganglionic sympathetic fibers are:
Short
Myelinated
Type B fiber
Leave the spinal cord via ventral root
Terminates in sympathetic ganglia
Synapses with postganglionic neurons
Sympathetic Ganglia
Ganglia: Structures where synapsing between
pre and post ganglionic fibers occurs
One preganglionic fiber synapses with several
post ganglionic neurons
Important groups of sympathetic ganglia are-
1. Sympathetic trunk (Paravertebral ganglia)
2. Prevertebral ganglia
3. Peripheral ganglia
Postganglionic Sympathetic Neuron
All Postganglionic Sympathetic Neuron
arises from sympathetic ganglia
Cell body located in ganglion
These are -
Short &
Nonmyelinated
Type C fibers
Postganglionic Sympathetic Neuron
Postganglionic Sympathetic Fibers may-
Pass through gray ramus communicantes
and re-enter ventral root to reach a spinal
nerve and innervate the-
Sweat gland
Blood vessels
Piloerector muscle
Effect of Sympathetic stimulation
System/organ Effects
CVS Cardiac stimulation
HR Increases
SV Increases
CO Increases
SBP Increases
DBP Increases
PVR Increases
Effect of Sympathetic stimulation
System/organ Effects
Respiratory Bronchodilatation
Tachypnea
GIT Relaxation of smooth muscle
Constriction of sphincters
CNS Increased alertness
Loss of sleep
Genitourinary Relaxation of detruser
Constriction of sphincters
Ejaculation in male
Sympathetic responses
THE STRESS REACTION
When stress occurs, the sympathetic
nervous system is triggered.
Norepinephrine is released by
nerves, and epinephrine is secreted
by the adrenal glands. By activating
receptors in blood vessels and other
structures, these substances ready
the heart and working muscles for
action.
Acetylcholine is released in the
parasympathetic nervous system,
producing calming effects. The
digestive tract is stimulated to digest
a meal, the heart rate slows, and the
pupils of the eyes become smaller.
The neuroendocrine system also
maintains the body’s normal internal
functioning.
Parasympathetic NS Function
“Rest and Digest”
• The parasympathetic nervous system has "rest and
digest" activity.
• In physiological terms, the parasympathetic system is
concerned with conservation and restoration of energy,
as it causes a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure,
and facilitates digestion and absorption of nutrients, and
consequently the excretion of waste products
• The chemical transmitter at both pre and postganglionic
synapses in the parasympathetic system is Acetylcholine
(Ach).
Parasympathetic - Origin
• Craniosacral Cell bodies of the
motor nuclei of the cranial
nerves III, VII, IX and X in
the brain stem
• Second, third and fourth [S2-
S4] sacral segments of the
spinal cord
• Nerve fibers emerge from
brain &
• sacrum cranio-sacral outflow
• The cranial nerves III, VII and IX affect the
pupil and salivary gland secretion
• Vagus nerve (X) carries fibers to the heart,
lungs, stomach, upper intestine and ureter
• The sacral fibers form pelvic plexuses which
innervate the distal colon, rectum, bladder and
reproductive organs.
• The parasympathetic nervous system uses only
acetylcholine (ACh) as its neurotransmitter.
• The ACh acts on two types of receptors, the muscarinic
and nicotonic cholinergic receptors.
• Most transmissions occur in two stages: When
stimulated, the preganglionic nerve releases ACh at the
ganglion, which acts on nicotinic receptors of the
postganglionic nerve.
• The postganglionic nerve then releases ACh to
stimulate the muscarinic receptors of the target organ.
ANS Receptors : Classified as either parasympathetic or sympathetic
Adrenergic
Cholinergic
Parasympathetic Responses
Figure 20-2.
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Effects on Body Tissues
