The Autonomic Nervous System
(ANS)
voluntary involuntary
Nervous system
The neuron: is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system.
Neuron structure and function
-Neuron consists of the soma or cell body, axon and dendrites.
-The neuron receives signals (excitatory and inhibitory) from other
neurons via its dendrites → cell body → axon.
-The axon is responsible for the transmission of signals to
effectors (muscle and glandular cells) and adjacent
neurons.
Transmissions of signal in the axon
Electrical transmission
Action potential
Transmissions of signal in synapse
Chemical transmissions
Neurotransmitters (Ach /NE)
Nervous System
Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous
(brain &spinal cord) System
Afferent (sensory) Efferent (motor)
nervous system nervous system
Somatic Nervous Autonomic Nervous
System System
Parasympathetic Sympathetic
Nervous System Nervous System
Skeletal Glands, Smooth Muscle
Muscle & Cardiac Muscle
Efferent (motor)
1 nervous system
2
Somatic Nervous Autonomic Nervous
System (voluntary) System (involuntary)
The Autonomic Nervous System
(ANS)
-The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is mainly concerned with regulation of
circulation and internal organs.
- ANS regulates involuntary functions.
The ANS is controlled by superordinate autonomic centers in the CNS, primarily in
the spinal cord.
The ANS consists of:
1- Sympathetic division (thoracolumbar region)
2-Parasympathetic division (craniosacral region).
Symp. NS Thoracolumbar outflow NE
-Short pre-ganglionic nerve acetylcholine (Ach) /Cholinergic neuron
-Long post-ganglionic nerve Noradrenaline/ norepinephrine(NE) /adrenergic
neuron
NE is breakdown by monoamine oxidases enzymes (MAO A)
Parasymp. NS Craniosacral outflow Ach
-Long pre-ganglionic nerve acetylcholine (Ach) /Cholinergic neuron
-Short post-ganglionic nerve acetylcholine (Ach) /Cholinergic neuron
Ach is breakdown by acetylcholine esterase)
sweat glands
note: sweat glands nerve is sympathetic nerve but release acetylcholine (Ach).
adrenal medulla.
Preganglionic sympathetic fibers → release acetylcholine → secretion of
epinephrine and some norepinephrine) into the bloodstream
In alarm reactions, secretion of E (and some NE) from the
adrenal medulla.
e.g., physical work, anxiety, stress
In severe hypoglycemia (BGL <30 mg/dL), the plasma
epinephrine concentration can increase by as much as 20-fold.
Sympathetic system fight-or-flight response
NE
Sympathetic division
The sympathetic system is referred to as: thoracolumbar outflow.
NE acts on Four main types of adrenergic receptors (α1, α2, β1 and β2).
All adrenergic receptors are G proteins coupled receptors
NE
α1-receptors contraction
α2-receptors decrease release
β1 -receptors contraction
β2-receptors relaxation
Action of Sympathetic division
Actions of NE
1- Eye:
- contraction of (radial muscle) through the α1 receptor→mydriasis
2- salivery glands:
- activation of viscous mucus secretion through the α1 receptors.
3- Bronchi:
- Dilatation of bronchi through β2 receptor.
β2 agonist used for treatment of asthma
4- Heart: Through β1 and β2 receptors
1- Stimulus conduction is faster.
2- ↑↑ Heart rate (positive chronotropic effect).
3-↑↑ contraction force (positive inotropic effect).
To decrease heart activity used beta antagonist (beta blocker)
5- Kidney: Activation of renin secretion through β1 receptors.
5- Blood vessels:
-Contraction of blood vessels in the skin and mucous membrane →α1 receptors.
-Dilatation of blood vessels in the skeletal muscles and coronaries →β2
receptors.
6- Stomach and intestine:
Contraction of the sphincters → α1 receptors.
Relaxation of smooth muscles → β2 receptors.
7- Urinary bladder:
Contraction of sphincters (α1).
Relaxation of detrusor (β2).
8- Pancreas:
Inhibition of insulin secretion (α2).
Inhibition of exocrine secretion (α2).
Liver: Glycogenolysis (β2 and α1)
Genitals: ejaculation in males (α1).
Uterus:
Relaxation of uterus (β2).
Sweat glands: Activation of glands through cholinergic receptors.
NE in the synaptic cleft :
- Diffusion of NE from the synaptic cleft into the blood
- Extraneuronal NE uptake (in the heart, glands, smooth muscles, glia, and
liver), and subsequent intracellular degradation of NE by catecholamine-O-
methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO)
- Active re-uptake of NE (70%) by the presynaptic nerve terminal. Some of the
absorbed NE enters intracellular vesicles and is reused, and some is inactivated
by MAO.
(MAO)
COMT & MAO
Parasympathetic division
-parasympathetic division in the cranial and sacral part
In the cranium the parasympathetic nerves originate from cranial nerves:
CN III (oculomotor nerve).
CN VII (facial nerve).
CN IX (glossopharyngeal nerve)
CN X (vagus nerve)
1973
In the sacral region S2, S3 and S4, commonly referred to as the
pelvic splanchnics.
Parasympathetic system Rest and digest
Ach
Parasympathetic ganglia contain cholinergic receptors:
nicotinic receptors (NN).
Target organs contain muscarinic receptors (M1, M2 and M3).
.
NN
M1
M2
M3
M1: mainly on CNS, and exocrine gland cells. (increase secretions)
M2: in the heart. (decease heart rate)
M3: mainly in smooth muscles (contraction)
Organs controlled by the parasympathetic division
1-Eye:
-contraction of circular muscle (M3 receptor) → miosis
-activation of lacrimal glands.
2-Salivary glands:
increased watery salivation (M3 receptors)
3-Heart: CN X causes the slowing of the heart rate (bradycardia).
It decreases the contraction force of the heart. (M2 recptors)
Bronchi: →↑↑ mucus secretion and bronchoconstriction (M3 receptors).
Treatment of asthma ?????????
Stomach and intestine: causes the increase of the tone, relaxation of the
sphincter and increase in secretion of digestive enzymes.
Liver and pancreas: → glycogenesis in liver and increase of exocrine
secretion of the pancreas.
.
Urinary bladder: cause the contraction of the detrusor muscle and the
relaxation of the sphincter.
Genitals: cause vasodilatation which leads to erection.
Cholinergic receptors are nicotinic (N) or muscarinic (M).
What is the difference between NN-cholinoceptors and NM-cholinoceptors?
They are similar in that they are both ionotropic receptors..
Muscarinic receptors
M1–M5) are G protein-coupled receptors…….Ach
M1: mainly on CNS, and exocrine gland cells.
M2: in the heart.
M3: mainly in smooth muscles.
Termination of ACh action is achieved by acetylcholinesterase-mediated
cleavage of Ach molecules in the synaptic cleft.
.
Autonomic acting drugs
paraympathetic system
Sympathetic system
Sympathomimetics Sympatholytics parasympathomimetics parasympatholytics
drugs drugs drugs drugs
Atropine blocks all M-cholinoceptors
