AUTONOMIC NERVOUS

SYSTEM
Ginus Partadiredja
Department of Physiology
 Nervous System

• Central Nervous System (CNS)

• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
– Somatic Nervous System
– Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
– Enteric Nervous System
 Somatic Autonomic

Sensory Input Special & somatic Interoceptors, special &

senses somatic senses

Motor Output Voluntary Involuntary

Motor Neuron One neuron Two neurons (pre- & post-

ganglionic neurons)
Neurotransmitters Acetylcholine Acetylcholine or
Norepinephrine
Effectors Skeletal muscle Smooth muscle, cardiac
muscle, glands
Responses Contraction Contraction/ Relaxation;
Increased/ Decreased
secretion
 AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Motor nuclei –
Lateral Horn

Motor nuclei –
Anterior Horn

SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

ANATOMY OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Thoracolumbar Craniosacral (n III, VII, IX,

(T1 – L2) X, S2 –S4)
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Pre- & post-ganglionic neurons

• Sympathetic trunk, ganglia, & plexus
Thoracolumbar (T1 – L2)

A. Para-vertebral ganglion
1. Superior cervical ganglion:
Head & heart
2. Middle cervical ganglion:
Heart
3. Inferior cervical ganglion:
Heart

B. Pre-vertebral ganglion
4. Celiac ganglion: stomach,
spleen, liver, kidney, small
ntestine
5. Superior mesenteric ganglion:
small intestine & colon
6. Inferior mesenteric ganglion:
distal colon, rectum, urinary bladder,
genital organs
 PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
Craniosacral (n III, VII, IX, X, S2 –S4)

Cranial (n III, VII, IX, X)

1. Ciliary ganglion (n III): smooth muscle
of eyeballs
2. Pterygopalatine ganglion (n VII): nasal
mucosa, palate, pharynx, lacrimal
glands
3. Submandibular ganglion (n VII):
submandibular & sublingual glands
4. Otic ganglion (n IX): parotid gland

Sacral (S2 – S4)

Pelvic splanchnic nerves: colon, ureters,
Urinary bladder, reproductive organs
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Distribution Widespread (sweat Limited (viscera &
glands, errector pili some blood vessels)
muscles, blood
vessels)
Outflow from CNS Thoracolumbar (T1- Craniosacral (Nerves
L2) III, VII, IX, X, S2-S4)
Location of ganglia Paravertebral & Terminal ganglia
prevertebral
Close to CNS Close/within viscera

Divergence Pre-ganglionic  >20 Pre-ganglionic  4-5

post-ganglionic  post-ganglionic 
many effectors single effectors
Pre-ganglionic ACh ACh
neurotransmitters
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Post-ganglionic NE (mostly) or ACh ACh
neurotransmitters (sweat glands, blood
vessels to skeletal
muscles)
Deactivation of Slow (by COMT or Rapid (ACh-esterase)
neurotransmitters MAO)

Physiological Fight-or-flight Rest-and-digest

effects
 SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

 NEUROTRANSMITTERS & RECEPTORS
• Cholinergic Neurons & Receptors
– Nicotinic receptors (post-ganglionic neurons, motor end plate,
adrenal medulla)
– Muscarinic receptors (effectors: smooth muscle, cardiac muscle,
glands, sweat glands, skeletal muscle blood vessel)

• Adrenergic Neurons & Receptors

 1 - excitation
 2 - inhibition
 1 - excitation
 2 - inhibition
 3 - brown adipose tissue
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Glands
Adrenal medulla Secretion of NE/ E ?
(Nicotinic)
Lacrimal Secretion () Secretion

Pancreas Inhibit digestive Secretion of digestive

enzymes & insulin enzymes & insulin
(2); Secretion of
glucagon (2)
Posterior pituitary Secretion of ADH (1) ?

Pineal Secretion of melatonin ?

()
Sweat Increase (muscarinic ?
& 1)
Adipose tissue Lipolysis (1), release ?
(1 & 3)
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Glands
Liver Glycogenolysis, Glycogen synthesis,
gluconeogenesis, increased bile secretion
inhibit bile secretion
Kidney, Secretion of renin (1) ?
juxtaglomerular
cell

Cardiac muscle Increased heart rate, Decreased heart rate,

atrial & ventricular atrial contraction
contraction (1)
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Iris, radial muscle Dilation of pupil ?

Iris, circular ? Constriction of pupil

muscle
Ciliary muscle Relaxation - distant Contraction – close
(eye) vision (2) vision

Lungs, bronchus Dilation (2) Constriction

Gall bladder and Relaxation (2) Contraction/ release of

ducts bile

Stomach, Decreased motility Increased motility;

intestine (1, 2, 2); sphincter sphincter relaxation
contraction (1)
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Spleen Contraction, secretion ?
of blood (1)
Ureter Increase motility (1) Increase motility (?)

Urinary bladder Wall relaxation (2); Wall contraction;

sphincter contraction sphincter relaxation
(1)
Uterus Inhibit contraction (non- Minimal effect
pregnant, 2), promote
contraction (pregnant,
1)
Sex organs Smooth muscle Vasodilation, erection
contraction, prostate
ejaculation
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Smooth muscle
Hair follicles, Erection of hairs ?
arrector pili
muscle
Vascular smooth
muscle-arterioles
Salivary gland Constriction, decrease Dilation, increase K+ &
secretion (1) water
Gastric gland Constriction, decrease Gastric secretion
secretion (1)
Intestinal gland Constriction, decrease Intestinal secretion
secretion (1)
Coronary arteriole Dilation (2), Constriction
Constriction (1, 2,
muscarinic
 Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Vascular smooth
muscle -arterioles
Skin & mucosa Constriction Dilation

Skeletal muscle Constriction (1), ?

dilation (2 &
muscarinic)
Abdominal viscera Constriction (1, 2) ?

Brain Constriction (1) ?

Kidney Decreased urine (1) ?

Systemic veins Constriction (1), ?

Dilation (2)
 RECEPTOR AGONISTS & ANTAGONISTS

• Agonists
– Phenylephrine – agonist 1 receptor (decongestan)

• Antagonists
– Atropine – block muscarinic receptors (pupil dilator, GIT relaxant)
– Propanolol – non-selective  blocker (also 2, decrease
glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, bronchoconstriction)
– Metoprolol – selective 1 blocker (heart)
Parasympathetic (rest & digest) Sympathetic (fight &
flight)

“SLUDD” “E situations”

Salivation Exercise
Lacrimation Emergency
Urination Excitement
Digestion Embarrassment
Defecation
AUTONOMIC REFLEXES
• Blood pressure, heart rate, ventricular contraction, blood
vessel diameter, digestion (motility of GIT), defecation,
urination

• Autonomic reflex arc

Receptor  Sensory neuron  Integrating center
(hypothalamus, brain stem, spinal cord)  Motor neurons
 Effector
AUTONOMIC CONTROL
Hypothalamus
• Sensory inputs (visceral, smell, gustation,
temperature, osmolarity, emotions (limbic system)
• Motor output (brain stem: cardiovascular, salivation,
swallowing, vomiting; spinal cord: defecation &
urination)
• Sympathetic (posterior & lateral parts of
hypothalamus)
• Parasympathetic (anterior & medial parts of
hypothalamus)
References

• Carola R, Harley JP, Noback, CR (1990).

Human Anatomy and Physiology, Chapter 14,
Pages: 411-425.
• Tortora GJ & Derrickson B (2006). Principles of
Anatomy and Physiology, 11th ed. Chapter 15,
Pages: 525-545.