Autonomic Nervous

System
(Introduction)
 The functions of the different body
systems are regulated mainly by 2
systems:

a) Nervous system

Rapid control --- by nerve impulses

b) Endocrine system

Slow control --- by hormones

 Nervous System

Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System

(any nerve that enters or leaves the CNS)

Brain Spinal cord

Efferent division Afferent division

They carry signals away from the These neurons bring
brain and spinal cord to the peripheral information from the
tissues.(output) periphery to the CNS.
e.g. motor nerves (input)
e. g. sensory nerves

Somatic Autonomic

Sympathetic Parasympathetic
 Somatic nervous system
Or voluntary nervous system.
Innervates the somatic structures in the
body

e.g. skeletal muscles, tendons & joints.

= control voluntary movements of the body

Autonomic Nervous System
(ANS)
involuntary
in nervous system Or visceral nervous
system.
Innervates the involuntary structures in the
body & visceral activity.

e.g. - Cardiac muscles.

- Smooth muscles in the wall of viscera (gut,
blood vessels, urinary bladder, tracheobronchial
tree,..
- Glands
 ??? Ganglion
It
is the collection of nerve cells
outside the central nervous system.

Autonomic ganglia: is the site of

contact between Preganglionic
Pre &
postganglionic
post neurons
 Sympathetic nervous

system
Arise from all thoracic segments + upper 2 Lumbar
segments (T1-L2)
So it is called thoracolumbar outflow.

Synapse in paravertebral
Ganglia

Axons then extend till the

organ.
Sympathetic nervous system SNS:

Sympathetic n. s. is continually active. It is

responsible for the reaction to stresses: e.g. trauma,

fear, cold, exercise, emotions & hypoglycemia.

Fight or Flight Response

N.B.:

SNS functions as a unit and discharge as a complete

system.
Parasympathetic nervous
system
Arise
from cranial (III,VII,IX,X) &
sacral (2nd,3rd,4th ) areas.
So it is called Craniosacral outflow

synapse in ganglia near or on the

effector organs.

this is why axons are very short.

 Parasympathetic Nervous System
PNS:
- Maintains essential body functions. e.g.: digestion,
excretion, required for life.
- Balances the effects of SNS.

Rest and Digest

Digest
N.B.:
It does not act as one unit instead it works as discrete
 Dual innervation:
- Most organs have dual innervation, but
one system usually predominates. e. g.
in the heart the PNS (Vagus)
predominates.

- However, some organs receive only

sympathetic innervation. e. g. Adrenal
medulla, kidney, and sweat glands
 Neurotransmitter
It
is the chemical signal, which
communicates one neuron and the
other or a neuron and an effector
organ.

It
is released from one neuron into
the synaptic cleft, and then
combines with specific receptor on
postsynaptic cell membrane
 Types of
Neurotransmitters:
Most popular :

Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Acetylcholine

(Ach.),
Dopamine, Histamine,
Serotonin (5 HT), GABA.

- Each has its specific type of receptor.

 Based on chemical nature of
neurotransmitter released, autonomic
fibers can be classified into:

Cholinergic fibers
Release Ach. as neurotransmitter

Adrenergic fibers
Release Norepinephrine as
neurotransmitter
 Acetylcholine
-ACH synthesis

Acetyl-CoA + cholineCholine acetyl-transferase

Ach.

- After producing its action ACH is rapidly

destroyed by cholinesterase enzyme
To choline + acetate
Sites of Release of Ach in Humans
All pre-ganglionic nerve endings (symp. &
parasymp.) &The neuromuscular junctions (motor-
end plates).
At autonomic ganglia & adrenal medulla.
All post-ganglionic parasympathetic
para Cholinergic
nerve endings.
Sympathetic Post-ganglionic cholinergic nerve
endings that supply :

sweat glands.
Some Blood Vesseles of skeletal muscles .
 Cholinergic
.Nicotinic receptors-
receptors
as they are stimulated by small
.dose of nicotine

.Muscarinic receptors-
as they are stimulated by
.muscarine
Cholinergic receptors
RECEPTOR SITE
Nm Neuromuscular junction

NN Autonomic ganglia, CNS

Adrenal medulla
M1 Autonomic ganglia, CNS
Gastric parietal cells
M2 Heart (SA, AV Nodes, Atria)

M3 Secretory glands
Smooth muscles
M4 Pancreas ,Smooth muscles
CNS
M5 CNS
 Pharma logical/ Physiological Effect of Ligand
Receptors Location
Binding

CNS, sympathetic post- Stimulation of phospholipase C leading to IP 3+

Muscarinic M1
ganglionic neurons DAG formation, increase in intracellular Ca 2+.

Myocardium, smooth
Muscarinic M2 Opening of K+ channels, inhibition of adenylate
muscles, some presynaptic
cyclase.
sites

Glandular tissue, vascular Stimulation of phospholipase C leading to IP 3+

Muscarinic M3
smooth muscles DAG formation, increase in intracellular Ca 2+.

Muscarinic M4 CNS Inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

Muscarinic M5 CNS IP3+ DAG formation, increase in intracellular Ca 2+.

Autonomic ganglia, skeletal

Nicotinic Opening of Na+-K+ channels, depolarization.
muscle, adrenal medulla
Norepinephrine &
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine presents at most
sympathetic
symp post-ganglionic
post
nerve endings, in the adrenal
medulla & certain neurons in
CNS.

Neurons that release

Norepinephrine from their
endings are known as
"Adrenergic neurons".
 Synthesis of Catecholamines
(Dopamine, Norepinephrine & Epinephrine)

Tyrosine
Tyrosin hydroxylase
(Mitochondria)
DOPA
)dihydroxyphenylalanine(
DOPA decarboxylase
)Cytoplasm (
Dopamine
Dopamine-beta hydroxylase
Norepinephrine
-PNMT (phenylethanolamine -N
)methyltransferase
Adrenal medulla &certain C.N.S(
)neurons Epinephrine
:The major part is catabolized as follow

1- Diffuse out in synaptic space & enter

general circulation. Or re-uptaked into the
nerve ending.

2- Metabolized by Catechol O-
methyltransferase (COMT) in synaptic space
to O-methylated derivatives.

3- Norepinephrine can be oxidized by

monoamine oxidase present in mitochondria
 sympathomimetic
Are
those produce effect
similar to stimulation of
postganglioic sympathetic
adrenergic neurons.

e.g. adrenaline,
noradrenaline,..
Sympatholytic drugs
They are anti-adrenergic drugs.

blockers & b blocker.

inhibit the transmitter release.

OR interfere with its synthesis.

Para-sympathomimetics
Stimulate muscarinic receptor
-choline esters..
- cholinomimetic.
- anti-cholinesterase.

e.g. Ach, carbacol, pilocarpine,

neostigmine
 Para-sympatholytic
Anti-muscarinic
that block
muscarinic receptor AND
inhibit
actions of Ach =
anticholinergic

e.g. atropine