Autonomic Nervous

System
Shihabuddeen Muhammad
Department of Human Physiology
 ANS Introduction
• embryologically = Somatic and Visceral
System
• Visceral (Organs) System (Visceromotor) =
ANS
• called vegetative or involuntary nervous system.
• From anatomical and physiological point of view,
ANS is divided into two divisions:
• 1. Sympathetic division
• 2. Parasympathetic division.
 Sympathetic division
• called thoracolumbar outflow
• the preganglionic neurons are situated in
lateral gray horns of 12 thoracic and first three
lumbar segments of spinal cord.
• SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA
– Paravertebral or sympathetic chain ganglia
– Prevertebral or collateral ganglia
– Terminal or peripheral ganglia.
 sympathetic chain ganglia
• arranged along the anterolateral surface of
vertebral column, connected with each other by
longitudinal fibers, to form the sympathetic chains
• Ganglia of the sympathetic chain on each side are
divided into four groups:
– Cervical ganglia : 8 in number
– Thoracic ganglia : 12 in number
– Lumbar ganglia : 5 in number
– Sacral ganglia : 5 in number
 sympathetic chain ganglia
• Cervical ganglia
– Superior cervical ganglion: It is formed by the fusion of
upper four cervical ganglia Postganglionic fibers from this
ganglion, supply the blood vessels, glands, etc.
– Middle cervical ganglion: It is formed by fifth and sixth
cervical ganglia. Postganglionic fibers from here supply
the sweat glands, thyroid gland and parathyroid glands.
– Inferior cervical ganglion: This ganglion is formed by the
fusion of seventh and eighth cervical ganglia. First thoracic
ganglion fuses with inferior cervical ganglion, forming
stellate ganglion. It sends postganglionic fibers to heart.
 sympathetic chain ganglia
• Thoracic ganglia There are 12 thoracic ganglia on each
side.Thoracic ganglia receive preganglionic fibers from the thoracic
segments of spinal cord. Postganglionic fibers from thoracic
ganglia are distributed to visceral organs in the thorax and
abdomen.
• Lumbar ganglia There are 5 lumbar ganglia. Preganglionic fibers
for these ganglia arise from (L1, L2and L3) and reach the lumbar
ganglia. Postganglionic fibers from these ganglia supply the
abdominal and pelvic organs.
• Sacral ganglia There are 5 sacral ganglia, which receive the
preganglionic fibers from (L1, L2and L3). Postganglionic fibers from
sacral ganglia innervate the blood vessels and sweat glands in the
lower limb.
 Prevertebral or collateral ganglia

• Prevertebral ganglia are situated in thorax, abdomen

and pelvis, in relation to aorta and its branches.
• Prevertebral ganglia are:
– Celiac ganglion
– Superior mesenteric ganglion
– Inferior mesenteric ganglion.
• Prevertebral ganglia receive preganglionic fibers from
T5 to L3 segments. Postganglionic fibers from these
ganglia supply the visceral organs of thorax,
abdomen and pelvis.
 Terminal or peripheral ganglia
• Terminal ganglia are situated within or close to
structures innervated by them. Heart, bronchi,
pancreas and urinary bladder are innervated
by the terminal ganglia.
• Sympathoadrenergic System includes
sympathetic division and adrenal medulla.
Adrenal medulla is a modified sympathetic
ganglion.
 PARASYMPATHETIC DIVISION
• Otherwise called the craniosacral outflow
• CRANIAL OUTFLOW
– Tectal Outflow (Oculomotor (III) nerve)
– Bulbar Outflow (Facial (VII) nerve,
Glossopharyngeal (IX) nerve and Vagus (X) nerve)
• SACRAL OUTFLOW
 CRANIAL OUTFLOW
• Tectal Outflow
– (Oculomotor (III) nerve) from Edinger-Westphal
nucleus of III cranial nerve preganglionic fibers
end in ciliary ganglion. Postganglionic fibers from
here supply the sphincter pupillae and ciliary
muscle.
 CRANIAL OUTFLOW
• Bulbar Outflow
– Facial (VII) nerve. Preganglionic fibers of this nerve end in
sphenopalatine ganglion and submaxillary ganglion.
Postganglionic fibers from sphenopalatine ganglion supply
lacrimal and nasal glands. Postganglionic fibers from submaxillary
ganglion supply sublingual and submaxillary glands.
– Glossopharyngeal (IX) nerve Preganglionic fibers synapse with
neurons of otic ganglion. Postganglionic fibers from otic ganglion
supply the parotid gland.
– Vagus (X) nerve) Preganglionic fibers terminate in the ganglia,
which are situated on or near the organs. Postganglionic fibers
from the ganglia supply the organs. Vagus nerve supplies almost
all the organs in the thorax and abdomen.
 SACRAL OUTFLOW
• Preganglionic fibers arise from anterior gray
horn cells of 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th sacral
segments of spinal cord and form the pelvic
nerve (nervi erigens). Fibers synapse with
postganglionic neurons, which are situated on
or near the visceral organs. postganglionic
neurons supply descending colon, rectum,
urinary bladder, internal sphincter, urethra
and accessory sex organs.
 NEUROTRANSMITTERS OF ANS
• „ Acetylcholine (Ach)
– Preganglionic sympathetic fibers: Acetylcholine (Ach)
– Preganglionic Parasympathetic fibers: Ach
– Postganglionic Parasympathetic fibers: Ach
– Postganglionic sympathetic cholinergic fibers: Ach
(supply sweat glands and blood vessels in heart and in skeletal muscle)
• Acetylcholine Receptors
– muscarinic receptors: present in all the organs innervated by the
postganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic system and by the
sympathetic cholinergic nerves.
– nicotinic receptors: present in the synapses between preganglionic and
postganglionic neurons of both sympathetic and parasympathetic
systems. Nicotinic receptors are also present in the neuromuscular
junction
 NEUROTRANSMITTERS OF ANS
• ADRENALINEANDNORADRENALINE
• Postganglionic noradrenergic fibers:
Noradrenaline
• Adrenergic receptors
– Alpha-adrenergic receptors, which are subdivided
into alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptors
– Beta-adrenergic receptors, which are subdivided
into beta-1 and beta-2 receptors.
 Similarities between Sympathetic &
Parasympathetic nervous system
• Both are efferent (motor) systems:
“visceromotor”
• Both involve regulation of the “internal”
environment generally outside of our
conscious control: “autonomous”
• Both involve 2 neurons that synapse in a
peripheral ganglion
• Innervate glands, smooth muscle, cardiac
muscle
 Differences between Sympathetic &
Parasympathetic nervous system
• Sympathetic nervous system “Fight or flight”
Catabolic (expend energy
• Parasympathetic nervous system “Feed &
breed”, “rest & digest” restore Homeostasis
• Dual innervation of many organs — having a
brake and an accelerator provides more
control
 Excitatory and Inhibitory Actions of Sympathetic and
Parasympathetic Stimulation

• Eye- Sympathetic stimulation(SS) dilate the pupil, whereas

parasympathetic stimulation (PS) constrict the pupil.
• Lacrimal glands- SS Decrease secretion whereas PS Increase
secretion
• Salivary glands- SS Decrease secretion and PS Increase in
secretion
• Gastrointestinal tract- SS Inhibit Motility, Decrease
Secretion, Constriction Sphincters and Relaxation of Smooth
muscles whereas PS Accelerate Motility, Increase Secretion,
Relaxation of Sphincters and Contraction Smooth muscles
Excitatory and Inhibitory Actions of Sympathetic and
Parasympathetic Stimulation

• Gallbladder- SS causes Relaxation whereas PS

causes Contraction of the gallbladder
• Urinary bladder- SS Relaxation Detrusor
muscle and Constriction of Internal sphincter
whereas PS Contraction of Detrusor muscle
muscle and Relaxation Internal sphincter
• Sweat glands- SS Increase secretion
Excitatory and Inhibitory Actions of Sympathetic and
Parasympathetic Stimulation

• Heart (rate and force)- SS Increase whereas PS

Decrease rate and force of contraction
• Blood vessels- SS causes Constriction of all
blood vessels, except those in heart and
skeletal muscle whereas PS causes Dilatation
of blood vessels
• Bronchioles- SS Dilatation whereas PS
Constriction
 SYMPATHOMIMETIC DRUGS
Are the drugs, which produce the effects of
sympathetic stimulation.
• Drugs Stimulating the Receptors Directly
– Phenylephrine (alpha receptors)
– Isoproterenol (beta receptors)
– Albuterol (beta2receptors).
• Drugs Inducing the Release of Noradrenaline
– Ephedrine
– Tyramine
– Amphetamine.
 SYMPATHETIC BLOCKERS
• Sympathetic blockers are the drugs that prevent actions of
sympathetic neurotransmitter.
1. Reserpine - Prevention of synthesis and storage of
noradrenaline
2. Quanethidine - Prevention of release of noradrenaline
3. Phenoxybenzamine - Blockage of alpha adrenergic
receptors
4. Phentolamine - Blockage of alpha adrenergic receptors
5. Metaprolol - Blockage of beta adrenergic receptors
6. Hexamethonium - Blockage of transmission of nerve
impulse through sympathetic ganglia
PARASYMPATHOMIMETIC DRUGS
Ach-like drugs are which produce the effects of
parasympathetic stimulation.
• Drugs which Act on Muscarinic Receptors
– Pilocarpine
– methacholine
• Drugs which Prolong the Action of Ach
– neostigmine and
– physostigmine
 PARASYMPATHETIC BLOCKERS
• Parasympathetic blockers are drugs, which
prevent theactions of parasympathetic
neurotransmitter.
– atropine,
– homatropine and
– scopolamine
• inhibit the actions of Ach by blocking the
muscarinic receptors.