Introduction to the Autonomic System

What are the three branches of the autonomic system?

Parasympathetic
Sympathetic
Enteric (autonomous, wall of gut, peristalsis)
Draw out the components and pathway of ANS neurons / synapses.

What are the differences between sympathetic organization of ANSS and ANS-P?
Sympathetic:
Preganglionic cell bodies: thoracolumbar intermediolateral nucleus
Preganglionic axon length: short (synapse @ paravertebral chain)
Vertebral levels found in: thoracolumbar
Postganglionic axon length: long
Parasympathetic:
Preganglionic cell bodies: brainstem (cranial) or sacral level of spinal
cord
Preganglionic axon length: long (synapse at target organ)
Vertebral levels found in: craniosacral
Postganglionic axon length: short
Describe the distribution of S and P innervation in tissues.
Most tissues have both. Exceptions:
Vasculature is primarily sympathetic.
Heart ventricles have a minor parasympathetic input.
Adrenal medulla is only sympathetic.
Liver is only sympathetic.
Sweat glands are only sympathetic.
Describe the parasympathetic and sympathetic innervations of the
eye.
Ciliary muscle relaxation (sympathetic) increase zonular fiber tension =>
lens flattening.

Ciliary muscle contraction (parasympathetic) is the opposite.

Describe the idea of predominant tone and give examples.
Predominant tone refers to the dominance of one type of ANS stimulation (P,
S) over another (S, P) in a tissue over another.
Example: the heart is largely under parasympathetic control at basal levels,
leading to a slower heart rate than deregulated states.
Example2: the bowels are under parasympathetic control, leading to bowel
sounds as compared to deregulated states.
What are the targets of most ANS drugs? Indicate the targets of
direct agonists, indirect agonists, and antagonists.
Mainly, these drugs target postganglionic synapses (allows for greater
localization) by attacking either the postganglionic receptor or
neurotransmittion.
Direct agonists: activate receptors.
Indirect agonists: interfere with transmitter degradation.
Antagonists: block receptors and their downstream activity.
Describe the process of synaptic transmission. Draw it out.
1. Action potential of the presynaptic neuron reaches the axon terminal.
2. This action potential causes opening of voltage-gated calcium
channels, which causes influx of calcium.
3. Calcium acts as a secondary messenger to presynaptic vesicles by
interacting with them to cause their exocytosis.
4. Neurotransmitters from these vesicles are released into the synaptic
cleft and bind to NT receptors on postsynaptic neurons.

What are the major transmitters of the ANS? What are the released
by?

Acetylcholine
o Preganglionic neurons to postganglionic dendrites
o Parasympathetic postganglionic neurons to target organs
Catecholamines
o Norepinephrine
Sympathetic postganglionic neurons
o Epinephrine
Sympathetic: adrenal medulla to blood
o Dopamine
Sympathetic postganglionic neurons that innervate renal
vasculature.

What are the major receptors in the ANS? Classify based on

neurotransmitter. For each receptor, identify the class of receptor
(GPCR, ionotropic, etc) and locations found.
Acetylcholine
o Nicotinic
Ionotropic: ACh binding opens channel up.
Location: all ganglia (pre/post synapse), some sweat
glands
o Muscarinic
Catecholamines
o -adrenergic
o -adrenergic