Autonomic Nervous System Mastering Questions

What is a varicosity in the autonomic nervous system?

A series of swollen ends of neurons where neurotransmitter is released

Neurons in the parasympathetic pathway use which of the following neurotransmitters?

Acetylcholine

In the autonomic nervous system, neurotransmitter activation of its receptor terminates when the neurotransmitter is broken down by enzymes or when it diffuses away. Which other mechanism leads to termination of neurotransmitter activity?

Active transport into surrounding cells

Which of the following is a modified sympathetic ganglion?

Adrenal medulla

Nerve fibers that transmit norepinephrine are ____.

Adrenergic

Which of the following is an effect of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Airway constriction

The division of the efferent nervous system that controls smooth and cardiac muscles and many glands is the __________ division.

Autonomic

The diameter of bronchioles varies under the control of __________ neurons, which cause the diameter to __________.

Autonomic; constrict under parasympathetic control and dilate under sympathetic control

Which of the following best describes the direction and function of efferent signals?

Away from the central nervous system, cause motor effects in glands or muscles

Which adrenergic receptor subtype has the greatest sensitivity for epinephrine?

B2

A patient is prescribed a drug that increases neurotransmitter active transport in a synapse. What effect will this have?

Decreased neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft and decreased signaling of target cells

Sympathetic neurons stimulate vasoconstriction in the GI tract, while sympathetic neurons stimulate vasodilation in arterioles supplying skeletal muscles. Which mechanism explains these opposite effects?

Different receptors for the same neurotransmitter

Which is the main enzyme responsible for the breakdown of catecholamines?

Monoamine oxidase

Which of the following characteristics is similar between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches for most neurons?

Neurotransmitter is secreted from the preganglionic neuron.

Which type of acetylcholine receptor is present on postganglionic neurons, and which type is present on the target tissues in autonomic pathways?

Nicotinic on the postganglionic neurons and muscarinic on the target tissues

The somatic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system both release acetylcholine (ACh) onto their target tissues. Do you predict that this would indicate that these two pathways carry out the same effects? Why or why not? Choose the best answer.

No, because the receptors found on the target tissue for each pathway are different.

Which of the following is an example of antagonistic control?

Parasympathetic stimulation causes bronchoconstriction, while sympathetic stimulation causes bronchodilation.

Which of the following nervous systems includes all the others? Autonomic Sympathetic Somatic Peripheral Parasympathetic

Peripheral

A patient is prescribed a muscarinic antagonist. This will inhibit signaling from which neurons?

Postganglionic parasympathetic

A single neuron is stimulated at the central nervous system; this signal travels all the way to the target tissue, where the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released onto the target tissue. The acetylcholine binds to a nicotinic receptor to induce skeletal muscle contraction. These steps describe the function of which branch of the efferent nervous system? Choose the best answer.

Somatic

Which of the following are components of the efferent nervous system?

Somatic motor neurons, sympathetic neurons, parasympathetic neurons

A patient with asthma is prescribed a β2 ceptor agonist to stimulate bronchodilation. This drug will stimulate effects similar to ligands secreted from _____.

The adrenal medulla

A patient was exposed to a nerve gas during a chemical warfare attack. The nerve gas inhibited the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. What will happen to the amount of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft, and how can this be treated?

The amount of acetylcholine will increase; treat with a cholinergic receptor antagonist.

Which nervous system division has parasympathetic and sympathetic branches?

The autonomic division of the efferent nervous system

Sympathetic pathways originate in which regions of the spinal cord?

Thoracic and lumbar