AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

DRA. VALERIO o Cranial Nerves:

1. Olfactory
Autonomic Nervous System 2. Optic
- part of the nervous system that regulates the 3. Oculomotor
function of the visceral and internal organs 4. Trochlear
o regulation of cardiovascular function 5. Trigeminal
o regulation of respiratory function 6. Abducens
o regulation of gastrointestinal function 7. Facial
8. Acoustic
9. Glossopharyngeal
NERVOUS
10. Vagus
11. Spinal accessory
CNS PNS 12. Hypoglossal

Cranial nerves associated with the nervous system:

o 3- Oculomotor
BRAIN SPINAL CRANIAL SPINAL o 7- Facial
CORD NERVES NERVES o 9- Glossopharyngeal
o 10- Vagus

Cranial nerves associated with autonomic:

SOMATIC AUTONOMIC o Thoracic
(VISCERA A o Lumbar
o Sacral
L)
Division of the Nervous System: The nervous system can regulate body functions by
Central Nervous System (CNS) means of a reflex activity.
o Brain
Cerebral cortex Reflex Arc
Hypothalamus 5 Components:
Thalamus 1. Sensory receptors (+) -- AP
Basal ganglia Specialized structures located in almost all parts of
Cerebellum the body stimulated by changes inside or outside the
Brainstem body.
Midbrain Body surface: skin, muscle, blood vessel walls, walls
Pons of internal organs, intestinal wall, heart muscle wall
Medulla Initially, generate a local potential (receptor
o Spinal Cord potential). When it reaches CFL or threshold voltage,
Cervical it is converted into what we called action potential
Thoracic or sensory impulse.
Lumbar Examples:
Sacral Muscles: Proprioceptors
Coccygeal o Stimulated by movement of limbs and
extremities
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Skin: thermoreceptors
o 12 pairs of cranial nerves o Stimulated by changes in temperature
Originate from the nuclei that are Eyes (rods and cones): photoreceptors
located in the brainstem o Changes in wavelength of light
o 31 pairs of spinal nerves Mouth: chemoreceptors
Originate from different segments o Changes in chemical composition of
of the spinal cord food
Arterial wall: baroreceptors
Although there are 2 divisions of the NS, they are o Stimulated by stretch of arterial wall
connected with each other. The PNS is connected to during increase of blood pressure
the CNS. Intestinal wall: mechanoreceptors

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 o Stimulated by stretching of walls the taste buds. These receptors will generate a
because of retained food action potential transmitted by an afferent nerve to
the medulla which is the center. From the medulla, a
Local potential (receptor) motor impulse is generated transmitted by an
efferent nerve from the salivary glands which are the
effectors. These effectors will increase production in
Active potential (sensory response) saliva.
Afferent nerve - Foodmechanoreceptors on the intestinal wall
afferent nerve- spinal cordefferent nervesmooth
Center musclecontraction/intestinal motility that will
Efferent nerve push the food to the anal direction.

Effector cells Peripheral Nervous System

- Made up of nerve fibers
Explanation:
Initially, generate a local potential (receptor Each spinal nerve and cranial nerve is made up of
potential). When it reaches CFL or threshold voltage, it is bundles of nerve fibers.
converted into what we called action potential or sensory
impulse. When the impulse reaches the center which is the 4 Types of nerve fibers:
CNS (brain or spinal cord), it will analyze a sensory impulse a. Somatic afferent
and direct generate another type of action potential which is Sensory
now a motor impulse. From the center, the motor impulse A sensory nerve that transmits sensory impulses
generated will be transmitted by an efferent nerve to a from sensory receptors located at specific sites going
specific effector cell or effector organ in the body. An efferent to the center
nerve is a motor nerve. It transmits motor impulses from the Sensory receptors (head, body walls. Extremities)
center to the effector cell. The effector cell will now perform C
action dictated by motor impulse. b. Somatic efferent
2. Afferent nerve Motor
A sensory nerve that transmits the sensory impulses A motor nerve that transmits motor impulses from
from sensory receptors to the center the center to the effector cell.
3. Center C effector cell (skeletal, striated voluntary muscle
Internalize and analyze only)
Generate motor impulse transmitted by efferent c. Visceral afferent
nerve Sensory
4. Efferent nerve A sensory nerve that transmits sensory impulses
Motor nerve that transmits motor impulses from the from sensory receptors located at different internal
center to effector cell organs going to the center.
5. Effector cell Sensory receptors (internal organs) C
Perform the action dictated by motor impulse d. Visceral efferent
4 types of effector cell: Motor
o Skeletal/ Striated Voluntary Muscle A motor nerve that transmits motor impulses from
o Cardiac muscle the center to effector cell.
o Smooth muscle C effector cell (visceral smooth muscle, cardiac
o Glands muscle, glandular cells)
Example:
Somatic Nervous System
MUSCLE GLANDS o Somatic afferent
o Somatic efferent
EXCITATORY Contract Increase secretory
activity
Autonomic/ Visceral Nervous System
INHIBITORY Relax Decrease
o Visceral afferent
secretory activity
o Visceral efferent
Example of a Reflex Arc:
- Food in the mouth, chemical components of the
food will stimulate the chemoreceptors present in

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Somatic vs. Autonomic
C
Somatic NS
o Conscious/ voluntary
o Deliberate response NMJ- transmission of motor impulses
from center to effector cell
Autonomic NS
o Subconscious/ involuntary EC
o Autonomic, instantaneous responses

Function: Autonomic NS
Somatic NS o Two-neuron fiber
o External environment (main function is
to bring about movement and
locomotion) C
Autonomic NS
o Regulates visceral functions
o Plays role in maintaining the balance in Preganglionic fiber
the internal environment
homeostasis
PG Peripheral ganglion (neuron outside CNS)
In terms of sensory receptors:
Somatic NS
o Head, body wall, extremities
Postganglionic fiber
Autonomic NS
o Visceral, internal organs
NEJ- transmission of action potential from a
Center EC preganglionic, postganglionic AN to effector
Somatic NS cell
o Cerebral cortex (basal ganglia,
cerebellum, and spinal cord) NTA Utilized
Autonomic NS Somatic NS
o Hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal o Acethylcholine
cord Autonomic NS
o Few are controlled by the cerebral o Acetylcholine, Norephinephrine
cortex, thus mostly involuntary, partly
voluntary Site of Inhibition
Respiration- increase pCO2, Somatic NS
decrease pO2 is in the medulla o Center, neuromuscular junction
Micturition- detrusor muscle o 2 sites
Defecation- external anal Autonomic NS
sphincter(contraction: o 3 sites
voluntary control): 55 mmHg o Center, peripheral ganglion,
(maximum) neuroeffector junction

Effector Cell Interruption (cutting of efferent nerve)

Somatic NS Somatic NS
o Skeletal muscle o Non-automatic cell
Automonic NS o Cannot generate its own action
o Visceral smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, potential
glandular cell o Example: skeletal muscle
o Compete paralysis and atrophy
Structure of the Efferent nerve Autonomic NS
Somatic NS o Automatic cell- involuntary
o one neuron fiber

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 o Has the capability to generate its own T1-L3
action potential independent of Thoracolumbar division
extrinsic nervous stimulation INNERVATIONS:
o Example: SA node in the heart T1 & T2
o Automaticity o Head and neck
o Smooth muscle
Stimulation of eyes and
Somatic NS salivary glands
o (+) excitation T3- T5
o Always to contract Thoracic region, heart,
lungs, bronchi
Autonomic NS T6- T12
o (+) excitatoty/ inhibitory Neurons of enteric NS
o Increase/decrease heart rate, intestinal Indirectly: stomach, small
motility, vasoconstriction/ intestine, proximal half of
vasodilatation, bronchoconstriction/ large intestine, liver,
bronchodilatation, papillary dilatation/ pancreas, gall bladder,
constriction, increase/decrease biliary system
glandular secretion L1-L3
Distal of large intestine,
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: rectum and anus
- Has three subdivisions: Genitourinary system
together with: superior
1) Enteric NS cervical ganglion, middle
NS of the intestinal tract (stomach, small cervical ganglion and
intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus) stellate ganglion
In the walls of GIT there are neurons: T1-L3
o Meissners plexus
Sweat glands, vascular
Regulates secretory activity of
smooth muscle
the GIT
o Myenteric
o Almost all visceral organs receive
Auerbachs plexus
sympathetic NS innervations
Regulates motor activity of GIT
o Parasympathetic NS:
(peristalsis)
Craniosacral division
NOTE: The activities of enteric are regulated by
Originates from the brainstem:
sympathetic and parasympathetic.
Cranial nerves:
o Sympathetic postganglionic fibers
3- Oculomotor
ENS decrease decrease GI
7- Facial
motor and secretory activity
9- Glossopharyngeal
Effector (NMJ)
o Parasympathetic preganglionic fibers 10- Vagus
ENS increase increase GI motor Spinal Cord:
and secretory activity S2
Peripheral ganglion (NEJ) S3
Sympathetic S4
Indirectly affecting
o decrease activity of ENS
o Inhibitory (decrease/increase) o Location of the peripheral ganglion
Parasympathetic GI motor and Sympathetic NS- near the center,
o Increase activity of ENS secretory activities far from the effector cell
o Excitatory Sympathetic chain: 22
pairs of ganglia beside
ANATOMICAL DIFFERENCES: vertebral column
o Origin of preganglionic fiber PARAVERTEBRAL
Sympathetic In the abdominal and
center is brain and spinal pelvic regions, there are
cord two additional ganglia.

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 Collateral ganglion: celiac
ganglion, superior C
mesenteric ganglion and
inferior mesenteric
ganglion PRE-
VERTEBRAL (in front of
vertebral column)
Parasympathetic NS- far from the PG
center, near the effector cell
(cranial nerves 3, 7, 9)
Cranial nerve 3-
oculomotor; synapses
with ciliary ganglion ;
innervates post ganglionic
smooth muscle of the EC
eyes

Cranial nerve 7- facial; branches Parasympathetic NS

synapse with pterygopalatine Pre- long
ganglion (nasal and lacrimal Post- short
glands); branches synapse with
submandibular ganglion C
(submandibular glands)

Cranial nerve 9- glossopharyngeal;

synapse with otic ganglion post-
ganglionic (parotid gland)

o Far from the center, in the effector cell

Cranial nerve 10- 75-80% of PG
parasympathetic activities are
carried ny vagus nerve, it
innervates heart, lungs, bronchi;
through the ENS, lower part of
esophagus, stomach, small
intestines, proximal half of large EC
intestines, liver, pancreas, gall
bladder, biliary system
o Degree of branching of the pre-ganglionic
Sacral- pelvic nerves; distal half of fiber
the large intestine, rectum, anus,
genito-urinary system Sympathetic NS- extensively
branching; more widespread or
o Length of the pre and post ganglionic fiber diffuse/ mass discharge example:
Sympathetic NS 1pre:20post)
Pre- short
Post- long Parasympathetic NS- more
localized except for those
innervated by vagus example:
1pre:1 post)

Biochemical Transmission
o Transmission of impulses both in the
somatic as well as autonomic efferent
pathways are mediated by chemical
substances called as NTAs
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 muscle cell, cardiac muscle cell and
Acetylcholine- cholinergic glandular cell.
transmission
NEP- adrenergic/ noradrenergic Steps in biochemical transmission:
transimission

o Sympathetic NS

NTA

EC

o Parasympathetic NS 1
1. Synthesis and storage of NTA
C
That will take place in the axon terminal or
nerve endings. When an action potential is
generated from the center, it will be
transmitted along an efferent nerve and
NTA when this action potential or motor
impulse reaches the nerve ending the
PG membrane becomes highly permeable to
Calcium. So Calcium will initiate a series of
chemical reactions that will cause two
membrane proteins to react with one
another: synaptobrevin and syntaxin. And
NTA this reaction of two membrane proteins
EC will cause the vesicular membrane to fused
with the membrane of the axon terminal
eventually causing the released by
Site of transmission: exocytosis of the NTA agent into the
o In the somatic efferent pathway a NTA is synaptic cleft.
released into: Synthesized in ribosomes, stored in vesicles
Neuromuscular junction mediate or nerve endings
transmission of motor impulses from a
somatic efferent nerve ending to the 2. Release of NTA (at the synaptic cleft)
membrane of the skeletal muscle cell Once release into the synaptic cleft the NTA
o In autonomics, there are two sites where a agent will then bind with a specific receptor
NTA agent is released into: on the membrane of the effector cell.
Peripheral ganglion- that will mediate Therefore, eliciting a physiologic response
transmission of impulses from from the effector cell.
autonomic efferent pre ganglionic 3. NTA binds with receptors (on the effector cell)
nerve ending to the membrane of the . But remember, the NTA agent will not
peripheral ganglion remain permanently bound to the receptor.
4. Deactivation of NTA
Neuroeffector junction- where NTA After eliciting a physiologic response from
agent will mediate transmission of the effector cell, it will be unbound; it will
impulses from an autonomic efferent then be deactivated by one of three
post ganglionic nerve ending to the mechanisms.
membrane of the effector cell, 3 mechanisms:
membrane of the visceral smooth o Enzymatic deactivation

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 Enzymes destroy NTA at Examples of second messengers:
the synaptic cleft o Adenyl cyclase
Deactivate Ach by NTA + receptor
acetylcholinesterase that activates G-protein (+)
immediately make short adenyl cyclase
nd
duration of cholinergic production of cAMP (2
transmission messenger) the
Main: Ach attributes to (+) protein
o Reuptake kinase A
NTA is transported back phosphorylates specific
to the nerve terminal, but intracellular enymes (+)
it will not be enclosed in a biochemical reaction in
vesicle so that enzymes the cell
present at the nerve Examples:
terminal will be able to catecholamines + beta-
destroy it. receptors, Ach +
Main mechanism that muscarinic receptors (G-
deactivates NEP will be protein coupled
destroyed by Mono receptors) ; nicotinic
Amine Oxidase present at (ligand gated ion channels)
nerve terminal
Enzymatic deactivation is o NTA + R (+) G-protein (+)
only secondary to phospholipase C breakdown of
reuptake PIP2 increase IP3 (IC Calcium:
o Diffusion away from the synapse second messenger) and DAG
Goes to the circulating stimulates (+) PKC
blood to the liver and phosphorylates IC proteins
deactivated by COMT
(Cathecol Omethyl Examples: catecholamines
Transferase) for NEP + alpha-receptors; Ach +
Secondary for NEP muscarinic receptors
-
Receptors
1. Ion channels (ligand gated)
Chemical agent: NTA, hormones SNS PSNS
NTA + receptor open ion channels
Elicit a fast response, but short effect C
Depolarize: excite ; hyperpolarize: inhibit C
effector
Example: Ach + nicotinic receptors

2. G-protein coupled with receptors Ach

Present on inner surface of the cell
membrane PG
NTA + receptor activate G-protein

Activate intracellular enymes Ach

(ligands) Ach
EC EC

Second messengers (cAMP)

More delayed response, long duration,

present even when NTA are deactivated
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SymChNS SynAChNS

C C

Ach Ach

PG PG

Ach NEP
EC EC

Cholinergic Transmission
1. All somatic NMJ
2. All peripheral/ autonomic ganglia
3. All parasympathetic NEJ
4. Sympathetic cholinergic NEJ
o Sweat glands
o Smooth muscles (blood vessels)
o Skeletal muscle

Cholinergic- only NTA in PSNS

Noradrenergic Transmission:
o All sympathetic adrenergic

PNS SNS

Anatomically Craniosacral thoracolumbar

Biochemically Cholinergic Adrenergic

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