AUTONOMIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM.
Dr. Ddungu Sulaiman
IUIU-DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY
23/1/24
Definition
• The autonomic nervous system is the subdivision
of the peripheral nervous system that regulates
body activities that are generally not under
conscious control
• It comprises of the sympathetic and
parasympathetic divisions
The Autonomic Nervous System and Visceral
Sensory Neurons
• The Autonomic Nervous System
• Innervates smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and
glands
• Regulates visceral functions
• Heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, urination
• The general visceral motor division of the PNS
The Autonomic Nervous System and Visceral
Sensory Neurons
Figure 15.1
Comparison of Autonomic and Somatic Motor Systems
• Somatic motor system
• One motor neuron extends from the CNS to
skeletal muscle
• Axons are well myelinated, conduct impulses
rapidly
Comparison of Autonomic and Somatic Motor Systems
• Autonomic nervous system
• Chain of two motor neurons
• Preganglionic neuron
• Postganglionic neuron
• Conduction is slower due to thinly or unmyelinated
axons
Pre-ganglionic Post-ganglionic
Ganglion
Autonomic and Somatic Motor Systems
Figure 15.2
Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System
• Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
• Innervate mostly the same structures
• Cause opposite effects (antagonistic actions)
Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System
• Sympathetic – “fight, flight, or fright”
• Activated during exercise, excitement, and
emergencies (results in increased heart rate,
peripheral circulation, sweating and anxiety)
• Parasympathetic – “rest and digest”
• Concerned with conserving energy
Anatomical Differences in Sympathetic
and Parasympathetic Divisions
• Issue from different
regions of the CNS
• Sympathetic – also
called the
thoracolumbar
division
• Parasympathetic –
also called the
craniosacral division
Figure 15.3
Anatomical Differences in Sympathetic
and Parasympathetic Divisions
• Length of postganglionic fibers
• Sympathetic – long postganglionic fibers
• Parasympathetic – short postganglionic fibers
• Branching of axons.
• Sympathetic axons – highly branched
• Influences many organs
• Parasympathetic axons – few branches
• Localized effect
Neurotransmitters of Autonomic Nervous System
• Neurotransmitter released by preganglionic axons
• Acetylcholine for both branches (cholinergic)
• Neurotransmitter released by postganglionic axons
• Sympathetic – most release norepinephrine
(adrenergic)
• Parasympathetic – release acetylcholine
Anatomical Differences in Sympathetic
and Parasympathetic Divisions
Figure 15.4a
Anatomical Differences in Sympathetic
and Parasympathetic Divisions
Figure 15.4b
The Parasympathetic Division
• Cranial outflow
• Comes from the brain
• Innervates organs of the head, neck, thorax, and
abdomen
• Sacral outflow
• Supplies remaining abdominal, pelvic and perineal
organs
The Parasympathetic Division
Figure 15.5
Cranial Outflow
• Preganglionic fibers run via:
• Oculomotor nerve (III)
• Facial nerve (VII)
• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Vagus nerve (X)
• Cell bodies located in cranial nerve nuclei in the
brain stem
Outflow via the Vagus Nerve (X)
• Fibers innervate visceral
organs of the thorax and most
of the abdomen
• Stimulates - digestion,
reduction in heart rate and
blood pressure
• Preganglionic cell bodies
• Located in dorsal motor
nucleus in the medulla
• Ganglionic neurons
• Confined within the walls of
organs being innervated
Parasympathetic Nervous System: Sacral Outflow
• Emerges from S2-S4
• Innervates organs of the pelvis and lower
abdomen
• Preganglionic cell bodies
• Located in visceral motor region of spinal gray
matter
• Form splanchnic nerves
The Sympathetic Division
• Basic organization
• Issues from T1-L2
• Preganglionic fibers form the lateral gray horn
• Supplies visceral organs and structures of
superficial body regions
• Contains more ganglia than the parasympathetic
division
Sympathetic Trunk Ganglia
• Located on both sides of the vertebral column
• Linked by short nerves into sympathetic trunks
• Joined to ventral rami by white and gray rami
communicantes
• Fusion of ganglia fewer ganglia than spinal
nerves
Sympathetic Trunk Ganglia
Figure 15.8
Prevertebral Ganglia
• Unpaired, not segmentally arranged
• Occur only in abdomen and pelvis
• Lie anterior to the vertebral column
• Main ganglia
• Celiac, superior mesenteric, inferior mesenteric,
inferior hypogastric ganglia
Sympathetic Division of the ANS
Figure 15.7
Sympathetic Pathways to Periphery
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 15.9
Sympathetic Pathways to the Head
Figure 15.10
Sympathetic Pathways to Thoracic Organs
Figure 15.11
Sympathetic Pathways to the Abdominal Organs
Figure 15.12
Sympathetic Pathways to the Pelvic Organs
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 15.13
The Role of the Adrenal Medulla in the Sympathetic Division
• Major organ of the sympathetic nervous system
• Secretes great quantities epinephrine (a little
norepinephrine)
• Stimulated to secrete by preganglionic
sympathetic fibers
The Adrenal Medulla
Figure 15.14
Visceral Sensory Neurons
• General visceral sensory neurons monitor:
• Stretch, temperature, chemical changes, and
irritation
• Cell bodies are located in the dorsal root ganglia
• Visceral pain – perceived to be somatic in origin
• Referred pain
A Map of Referred Pain
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 15.15
Visceral Reflexes
• Visceral sensory and autonomic neurons
• Participate in visceral reflex arcs
• Defecation reflex
• Micturition reflex
Visceral Reflex Arc
Figure 15.16
Central Control of the ANS
• Control by the brain stem and spinal cord
• Reticular formation exerts most direct influence
• Medulla oblongata
• Periaqueductal gray matter
• Control by the hypothalamus and amygdala
• Hypothalamus – the main integration center of the
ANS
• Amygdala – main limbic region for emotions
• Control by the cerebral cortex
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System: Raynaud’s
Disease
• Raynaud’s disease – characterized by constriction
of blood vessels
• Provoked by exposure to cold or by emotional
stress
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System: Hypertension
• Hypertension – high blood pressure
• Can result from overactive sympathetic
vasoconstriction
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System: Mass Reflex
Reaction
• Mass reflex reaction
• Uncontrolled activation of autonomic and somatic
motor neurons
• Affects quadriplegics and paraplegics
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System: Achalasia of the
Cardia
• Achalasia of the cardia
• Defect in the autonomic
innervation of the
esophagus
END
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