Gross Anatomy Lecture 5

Peripheral Nervous System: Autonomic Division

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

PNS
A ll c r a n i a l n e r v e s
A ll s p in a l n e r v e s
S o m a tic D iv is io n (S N S )
I n n e r v a t e s s k e le t a l m u s c le
I n c lu d e s g e n e r a l s o m a t ic s e n s o r y n 's
V o lu n t a ry

A u to n o m ic D iv is io n (A N S )
I n n e r v a t e s v is c e r a l o r g a n s :
S m o o t h a n d c a r d ia c m u s c le
G l a n d s a n d A d ip o s e T is s u e - I n v o lu n t a r y

P a r a s y m p a t h e t ic

S y m p a t h e t ic

E n t e r ic

Overview of Autonomic Nervous System

Innervates viscera - unconscious control
Mediates Homeostasis
Visceral sensory and visceral motor neurons which function in visceral reflexes
Takes at least two motor neurons connected in series to innervate organs.
Necessitates peripheral ganglia
A ganglion is a collection of neuronal cell bodies, often grossly visible
Three divisions: Parasympathetic, Sympathetic and Enteric
Dual Innervation of organs: Parasympathetic and Sympathetic divisions
Enteric division is special for GI tract.

Homeostasis:
Maintenance of critical physiological parameters of the internal environment within the
limits compatible with life

General Functional Attributes

Sympathetic Division
Prepares body for action
Mobilizes energy stores (Catabolic)
Mediates responses to stress
Fight or flight
Anatomically:
Originates from a restricted part of Spinal Cord
Has its own set of peripheral ganglia
General Functional Attributes
Parasympathetic Division
Conserves and restores energy reserves (Anabolic)
Promotes digestion, absorption and storage
Protective - miosis - constriction of pupil
Rest and Digest i.e., assimilate
Anatomically:
Originates from a restricted part of Brain and restricted part of the Spinal
Cord

Has its own set of peripheral ganglia

Dual Innervation
Many organs have a Sympathetic and a Parasympathetic innervation
One excites and the other inhibits function of the organ
Some organs dont!!
Sweat glands, arrector pili muscle of hair follicles, vascular smooth muscle,
adrenal gland and adipose tissue get only a Sympathetic innervation
Opposition in Dual Innervation by ANS
The Sympathetic division controls:
Mydriasis - opens pupil to let light in
Decreases GI motility
Closes sphincters of GI tract/bladder
Decreases salivary gland secretion
Accelerates heart rate
Increases blood pressure
Increases blood glucose
Increases lipolysis
Dilates bronchioles
Piloerection to conserve heat
Ejaculation - contracts smooth muscle of associated penile structures
Operates all the time and capable of massive response in emergencies "sympathetic discharge" in the "flight or fight" reaction

The Parasympathetic division controls:

Miosis - close the pupil -protects retina from excess light
Increases GI motility to promote digestion and absorption of nutrients
Opens sphincters (stomach, rectum, bladder)
Increases salivary gland and mucosal gland secretions - digestion
Slows heart rate - rest
Vasodilation in erectile tissue of penis and clitoris - erection
Stimulates bladder muscle for micturition
Operates all the time.
What is the Pattern of Spinal Nerve Branching? Branches of a Spinal Nerve - Thoracic
level
Branches of a Spinal Nerve:
Fiber (meaning axons) types (or neuron types) that are in spinal nerves and their
branches

Nerve fiber types in spinal nerves and their roots and rami
i. Somatic Afferent fibers (SA)

Sensory axons from somatic tissue - somatic nervous system

ii. Visceral Afferent fibers (VA)

Sensory axons from visceral tissue autonomic nervous system

iii. Somatic Efferent fibers (SE)
Motor axons to skeletal muscle - somatic nervous system
iv. Visceral Efferent fibers (VE)
Motor axons to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, glands and adipose tissue
autonomic nervous system

General Components to ANS :

Sensory neurons - one neuron to reach the CNS

Motor neurons
Takes two motor neurons in series to innervate an organ
This requires a synaptic connection in the periphery between the two motor
neurons
This occurs in peripheral ganglia that are usually grossly visible
Many organs have dual innervation:
Parasympathetic
Sympathetic
Generally, they oppose each other. One excites, the other inhibits

Dog ANS in sagittal view

The slide of the ANS diagram is very complex - Lets break the ANS down
The next series of slides build up to the final figure, Division by Division;
Preganglionic by Preganglionic axons and Postganglionic by Postganglionic axons
First, well do Parasympathetic
Second, well do Sympathetic

Origins of ANS in CNS

Sites of ANS ganglia
Craniosacral division because it originates in brain and sacral spinal
cord
Parasympathetic pre- and postganglionic fibers together and synapsing in Head or
Terminal ganglia

Sympathetic preganglionic fibers for organs of Head, Neck, Thoracic,

Abdominal and Pelvic Cavities
Thoracolumbar division because it originates from thoracic and
upper lumbar spinal cord

Sympathetic pre- and postganglionic fibers for

organs of Head, Neck, Thorax, Abdominal and Pelvic Cavities

Sympathetic preganglionic fibers for sudomotor (sweating), pilomotor (erecting hair),

and vasomotor (managing blood pressure and blood distribution ) controls
Sympathetic pre- and postganglionic fibers for sudomotor, pilomotor and vasomotor
function
Dog ANS in sagittal view

Routing of Sympathetic fibers in Spinal Nerves

Routing of sympathetic fibers

#2

Summary: ANS
Innervates Organs
Involuntary
Homeostasis
At least two motor neurons in series
Necessitates peripheral ganglia
Three divisions: Parasympathetic,
Sympathetic and Enteric
Dual Innervation of organs by
Parasympathetic and Sympathetic divisions
Enteric division is special for GI tract.