Autonomic Nervous System

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS
SYSTEM
Dr. Ayisha Qureshi
Assistant Professor,
MBBS, MPhil
DIVISIONS OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN THE SOMATIC
& AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
SOMATIC NERVOUS AUTONOMIC NERVOUS
SYSTEM SYSTEM
Somatic senses & special senses Mostly interoceptors; some somatic
SENSORY INPUT senses & special senses
Voluntary control; cerebral Involuntary control; hypothalamus,
CONTROL OF cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system, brainstem. Limited
MOTOR OUTPUT cerebellum, spinal cord. control from cerebral cortex.
MOTOR NEURON One-neuron pathway, Two-neuron pathway.

PATHWAY
NEUROTRANSMI All Somatic neurons secrete Ach. All preganglionic fibers release Ach.
Postganglionic fibers release
TTERS & different NT in case of Sym. & Paras.
HORMONES
Skeletal muscles. Smooth muscles, cardiac muscles,
EFFECTORS and glands.
Contraction or relaxation of smooth
muscle; Increased or decreased
RESPONSES Contraction of skeletal muscle. strength of contraction of cardiac
muscle; increased or decreased
secretion of the glands.
Type of nerve α-motor neuron is large Preganglionic fibers: B fibers

fibers diameter, & rapidly conducting Postganglionic fibers: C fibers
Somatic & Autonomic nervous
system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral
nervous system that is responsible for regulating involuntary body
functions, such as heartbeat, blood flow, breathing and digestion.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Divisions of ANS
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM/ PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM/
Thoracolumbar Division Craniosacral Division
• Fight, flight or Fright. • Rest and Digest.
• Activated during exercise, • Concerned with conserving
excitement and energy.
emergencies.
ANS
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Nervous System Nervous System
Preganglionic Postganglionic Preganglionic Postganglionic

Fibers Fibers Fibers Fibers
Characteristics of ANS
• Nerve fibers: Both divisions have pre- & postganglionic fibers.
- Preganglionic neuron is myelinated.
- Postganglionic neuron is unmyelinated.
(In contrast to the large diameter and rapidly conducting α -motor neurons,
preganglionic axons are small-diameter, myelinated, relatively slowly
conducting B fibers.)
(The axons of the postganglionic neurons are mostly unmyelinated C fibers
and terminate on the visceral effectors.)
• Neurotransmitters:
Autonomic nerves release NT that may be excitatory or inhibitory.
• Divergence:
Preganglionic fibers branch to synapse with an average of 8-9
postganglionic neurons.
• Convergence:
Postganglionic neuron receives synaptic input from a large number of
preganglionic fibers.
Divisions of the ANS
• Fight or Flight Response
• Thoracolumbar Division
• Shows mass activation
THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM

The Sympathetic System Outflow
Sympathetic Chain Ganglion
Paravertebral Ganglia Prevertebral Ganglia

• Most of the sympathetic ganglia lie close to • Also called the Collateral ganglia.
the spinal cord and form the two chains of
ganglia, linked by short nerves —one on • Unpaired, not segmentally
each side of the cord—known as the arranged.
Sympathetic Trunks. • Occur only in abdomen and pelvis,
• Because the ganglia lie close to the spinal
cord, thus, the preganglionic neurons are
closer to the innervated organ.
short while the postganglionic neurons • Lie anterior to the vertebral
reaching the target organs are very long. column.
• Joined to ventral rami by white and gray
rami communicans. • Main ganglia:
• In contrast, the parasympathetic ganglia lie – Celiac, superior mesenteric, inferior
within or very close to the organs innervated mesenteric, inferior hypogastric
and ,thus, have very short preganglionic and ganglia.
long postganglionic neurons.
See Next slide for figure
See Next slide for figure
The Sympathetic System Outflow
Myelinated preganglionic
fibers exit spinal cord in
ventral roots from T1 to L2
levels.
They exit from the Lateral
horn of the spinal cord.
Most sympathetic nerve
fibers separate from
somatic motor fibers and
synapse with postganglionic
neurons within
paravertebral ganglia.
Ganglia within each row are
interconnected, forming a
chain of ganglia that parallels
spinal cord to synapse with
postganglionic neurons.
Sympathetic System Outflow
Termination of Sympathetic Termination of Sympathetic
Preganglionic Fibers Postganglionic fibers
1. Postganglionic fibers in the • Axons leave the chain
paravertebral ganglion of the same
segment.
ganglia and re-enter the
2. Postganglionic fibers of the spinal nerves via gray rami
paravertebral ganglion of an upper communicans to reach the:
or lower segment. 1. Visceral targets
3. Pass thru the paravertebral ganglion
chain & end on postganglionic 2. Smooth muscles
neurons in prevertebral ganglion 3. Sweat glands
close to the viscera (celiac, superior
and inferior mesenteric ganglion).
4. Adrenal Medulla.
To the Periphery To the Head
To the Thoracic regions To the Abdominal Organs
The Adrenal
Gland
• The Adrenal gland is the major
organ of the sympathetic nervous
system.
• When stimulated, the adrenal
medulla secretes large quantities of
epinephrine and a little
norepinephrine directly into the
blood stream.
Sympathoadrenal system:
• Stimulated by mass activation
of the sympathetic nervous
system.
• Innervated by preganglionic
sympathetic fibers.
• Rest or Digest
• Craniosacral Division
• Shows stimulation of separate parasympathetic nerves
THE PARASYMPATHETIC SYSTEM

The Parasympathetic
Division
• Preganglionic fibers are located
in several cranial nerve nuclei (III,
VII, IX and X) and in the IML
column of the sacral spinal cord
(2-4 sacral segments).
• Preganglionic fibers synapse in
terminal ganglia located next to
or within organs innervated.
• Thus, the parasympathetic
preganglionic fibers are longer
while the parasympathetic
postganglionic fibers are short.
• Most parasympathetic fibers do
not travel with the spinal nerves.
• Do not innervate blood vessels,
sweat glands, and arrector pili
muscles.
PARASYMPATHETIC DIVISION
(Cranial Outflow)
1. 3. 4.
2.
Cranial Nerve III- Cranial Nerve IX Cranial Nerve X
Cranial Nerve VII
Occulomotor GlossoPharyngeal Vagus Neve
Facial Nerve
Nerve Nerve
Parasympathetic Division (continued)
• 4 of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves (III, VII, X, XI) contain

preganglionic parasympathetic fibers.
• III, VII, XI synapse in ganglia located in the head.
• X synapses in terminal ganglia located in widespread
regions of the body.
• Vagus (X):
– Innervates heart, lungs, esophagus, stomach, pancreas,
liver, small intestine and upper half of the large
intestine.
• Preganglionic fibers from the sacral level innervate the
lower half of large intestine, the rectum, urinary and
reproductive systems.
There are 3 main types of neurotransmitters used extensively in ANS:
1. Acetylcholine
2. Norepinephrine
3. Epinephrine
CHEMICAL TRANSMISSION AT
AUTONOMIC JUNCTIONS
NEUROEFFECTOR
JUNCTION
• The synapse between an
autonomic postganglionic
neuron and its target cell is
called a Neuroeffector
Junction.
• The postganglionic axons
end in nerve terminals that
show swellings called
“varicosities” that consist
of vesicles containing the
Neurotransmitters.
• The diffuse release of NT
means that a single
postganglionic neuron can
affect a large area of target
tissue.
• Acetylcholine is the
neurotransmitter released by all
neurons whose axons exit the
CNS, including cranial motor
neurons, α-motor neurons, γ-
motor neurons, preganglionic
sympathetic neurons and
preganglionic parasympathetic
neurons.
• Postganglionic parasympathetic
neurons also release Ach,
whereas postganglionic
sympathetic neurons release
either Norepinephrine or Ach.
• Ach is degraded by
Acetylcholinesterase.
• Norepinephrine is degraded by
monoamine oxidase.
Neurotransmitters in ANS
CHOLINERGIC RECEPTORS ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS
The principal transmitter is ACETYLCHOLINE The principal transmitter is EPINEPHRINE
and include: & NOREPINEPHRINE and include:
1. All preganglionic neurons. 1. All remaining sympathetic
2. All parasympathetic postganglionic postganglionic neurons.
neurons. 2. The adrenal medulla is essentially a
3. Sympathetic postganglionic neurons sympathetic ganglion & secretes NE
that innervate sweat glands. and Epinephrine directly into the
4. Sympathetic postganglionic neurons blood stream.
that end on blood vessels in skeletal
The Adrenergic receptors are further
muscles.
subdivided into:
The Cholinergic receptors are further
subdivided into: • Alpha receptors (α1 and α2)
• Nicotinic Cholinergic receptors. • Beta receptors (β1, β2 and β3)
• Muscarinic Cholinergic receptors.
Responses to Cholinergic Stimulation
(continued)
Other Autonomic Neurotransmitters
• Certain noradrenergic, norcholinergic

postganglionic autonomic axons produce their
effects through other NTs. These include:
– Adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
– Vasoactive Intestinal peptide (VIP).
– Nitric Oxide (NO).
– Neuropeptide Y (NPY)
COMPARISON OF SYMPATHETIC &
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
RESPONSES OF EFFECTOR ORGANS
TO AUTONOMIC NERVE IMPULSES
Organs With Dual Innervation
• Most visceral organs receive dual innervation (innervation by

both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers).
• Antagonistic effects:
– Sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers innervate the same cells.
• Actions counteract each other.
– Heart rate.
• Complementary:
– Sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation produces similar effects.
• Salivary gland secretion.
• Cooperative:
– Sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation produce different effects
that work together to produce desired effect.
• Micturition.
Organs Without Dual Innervation
• Regulation achieved by increasing or decreasing

firing rate.
• Adrenal medulla, arrector pili muscle, sweat
glands, and most blood vessels receive only
sympathetic innervation.
– Nonshivering thermogenesis.
Control of the ANS by Higher Brain Centers
• Sensory input transmitted to brain centers that integrate

information.
• Can modify activity of preganglionic autonomic neurons.
• Medulla:
– Most directly controls activity of autonomic system.
– Location of centers for control of cardiovascular, pulmonary, urinary,
reproductive and digestive systems.
• Hypothalamus:
– Regulates medulla.
• Cerebral cortex and limbic system:
– Responsible for visceral responses that are characteristic of
emotional states.
DISORDERS OF ANS
HORNER’S SYNDROME
Horner syndrome is a rare disorder

resulting from interruption of
preganglionic or postganglionic
sympathetic innervation to the face.
CAUSE:
• Injury to the nerves.
• Injury to the carotid artery.
• A stroke
• Lesion in the brain
SYMPTOMS:
The hallmark of Horner’s syndrome is
the TRIAD of:
1. Anhidrosis (reduced sweating)
2. Ptosis (drooping eyelids)
3. Miosis (constricted pupil)
Symptoms may also include
Enophthalmos (sunken eyes) and
vasodilation.
Raynaud’s Phenomenon
Raynaud’s Phenomenon refers to an
episodic reduction in blood flow primarily
to the fingers, often during exposure to
cold or during a stressful condition.
CAUSE:
It is a vasospastic disorder. There can be
many causes:
• Exaggeration of response to cold,
temperature or stress.
• Secondary to another disorder as
Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s
syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome,
anorexia.
SYMPTOMS:
1. Triphasic color change in the fingers
from white to cyanotic blue to deep
red.
2. When there is vasospasm, the fingers
are pale and cold; then due to
reduced blood flow, the color turns
blue and there is intense pain; and
finally, once blood flow recovers,
there is tingling and swelling.

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AUTONOMIC NERVOUS

MOTOR NEURON One-neuron pathway, Two-neuron pathway.

Type of nerve α-motor neuron is large Preganglionic fibers: B fibers

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Preganglionic Postganglionic Preganglionic Postganglionic

THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM

Paravertebral Ganglia Prevertebral Ganglia

THE PARASYMPATHETIC SYSTEM

• 4 of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves (III, VII, X, XI) contain

• Certain noradrenergic, norcholinergic

• Most visceral organs receive dual innervation (innervation by

• Regulation achieved by increasing or decreasing

• Sensory input transmitted to brain centers that integrate

Horner syndrome is a rare disorder

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