ANS : NEUROTRANSMISSION

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

• The ANS consists of motor neurons that:
– Operate via subconscious control
– Have viscera as most of their effectors
– Innervate smooth and cardiac muscle and glands
– Make adjustments to ensure optimal support for
body activities
• Autonomic nervous system
– Chain of two motor neurons
• Preganglionic neuron (myelinated)
• Postganglionic neuron (unmyelinated)
– Conduction is slower due to thin & unmyelinated
axons- C fibers.

Pre-ganglionic Post-ganglionic

Ganglion
 ORIGIN

• From different
regions of the CNS
– Sympathetic – also
called the
thoracolumbar
division
– Parasympathetic –
also called the
craniosacral division
 SYMPATHETIC VS PARASYMPATHETIC

• Sympathetic – “fight, flight, or fright”

– Involves E activities – exercise, excitement,
emergency, and embarrassment
– Its activity is illustrated by a person who is
threatened
• Heart rate increases, and breathing is rapid and deep

• Parasympathetic – “Rest and Digest”

– Involves the D activities – Digestion, defecation,
and diuresis
 SYMPATHETIC VS PARASYMPATHETIC

• 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
 SYMPATHETIC VS PARASYMPATHETIC

• Neurotransmitter released by preganglionic

axons
– Acetylcholine for both branches (cholinergic)
• Neurotransmitter released by postganglionic
axons
– Sympathetic – most release Norepinephrine
(adrenergic)
– Parasympathetic – Release Acetylcholine
(cholinergic)
Exception : Sweat gland and Renal
vasculature
PARASYMPATHETIC PATHWAY
 PARASYMPATHETIC PATHWAY
• Cranial outflow
– Comes from the brain
– Innervates organs of the head, neck, thorax, and
abdomen
• Sacral outflow
– Supplies remaining abdominal and pelvic organs
 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
 SACRAL OUTFLOW
• Emerges from S2-S4
• Preganglionic cell bodies
– Located in visceral
motor region of spinal
gray matter
• Innervates organs of the
pelvis and lower abdomen
• Form splanchnic nerves
SYMPATHETIC PATHWAY
 SYMPATHETIC PATHWAY
• Basic organization
– Origin: 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 Division of the ANS

T1

L2
Sympathetic Pathways to Periphery
Sympathetic Pathways to the Head
Sympathetic Pathways to Thoracic
Organs
SYMPATHETIC PATHWAYS TO THE ABDOMINAL
ORGANS
Sympathetic Pathways to the Pelvic Organs
The Adrenal Medulla
ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
Levels of ANS Control
STEPS OF NEUROTRANSMISSION
 Neurohumoral Transmission
• Impulse conduction
• Neurotransmitter
release and modulation
• Binding of NT on post-
junctional membrane
• Post-junctional acivity
– EPSP
– IPSP
– AP
• Termination of action