Chapter 16 - Autonomic Nervous System and Higher- Order Functions

Which system coordinates cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive functions?

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) (Remember that these activities in which there is little to no volitional modification involved)

How does a medication that blocks beta receptors help a patient with high blood pressure?

Beta -1 receptors in the heart do not stimulate an increase in the force and rate of heart conditions (Remember that an agonist will enhance cardiac contraction)

Why is the autonomic tone important to autonomic motor neurons?

It allows for an increase or decrease of activity, providing a greater range of control (Remember the importance of adapting to changing conditions)

Why is the axon of a gangliotic neuron called a postganglionic fiber?

It carries impulses away from the ganglion (Remember the meaning of the prefix post)

What is the major structural difference between sympathetic preganglionic and ganglionic fibers?

Preganglionic fibers are short, and postganglionic fibers are long. (Remember that collateral ganglia are close to the vertebral column)

You stand up after sitting in class for an hour. Signals from the baroceptors in the cartoid artery tell the brain that blood pressure is dropping. Your heart must compensate and increase blood pressure. How is this accomplished?

Sympathetic fibers in the cardiac plexus release stimulatory neurotransmitters. (Remember this is part of the "fight or flight" response.)

In the somatic nervous system, ________________.

a single lower motor neuron directly controls the activity of a muscle (Remember that volitional control comes from a connecting upper motor neuron)

The lower motor neurons of the somatic nervous system exert direct control over skeletal muscles. By contrast, in the autonomic nervous system there is _________________.

a synapse interposed between the central nervous system and the peripheral effector (Remember that there is an extra connection here)

The neurotransmitter released by all parasympathetic neurons is ________________.

acetylcholine (ACh) (Remember that its effects are short-lived in the parasympathetic system)

The parasympathetic division ___________________.

activates the "rest and repose" reaction and conserves energy

Ganglionic neurons of the sympathetic division can be located in the _______________.

adrenal medulla, collateral ganglia, and sympathetic chain ganglia

Binding to which of the following receptors of the ANS causes a DECREASE in cAMP levels?

alpha-2 (Remember that these receptors are located on the sympathetic neuromuscular junctions)

What is NOT an effect on aging on the nervous system?

an increase in the number of neurons used for dual innervation (Remember that cells tend to be lost with time)

Visceral reflexes provide __________________.

automatic motor responses (Remember the purpose of a reflex)

Stimulation of what type of membrane receptor by norepinephrine would activate enzymes that break down glycogen in skeletal muscles?

beta-1 (Remember that these are located on the heart and kidneys)

Which type of sympathetic receptor causes inhibition and relaxation of smooth muscles along the respiratory tract?

beta-2 (Remember that these receptors are also preset in the heart and skeletal muscle)

What adrenergic receptors produce stimulatory effects, including stimulation of metabolism and energy consumption?

both alpha-1 and beta-1 (Remember that this also includes receptors that cause peripheral blood vessels to constrict)

Autonomic tone allows autonomic neurons to _____________________.

both increase and decrease their activity (Remember that this allows for better ability to respond to change)

The heart, lungs and digestive organs are innervated by __________________.

both the sympathetic and parasympathetic division (Remember the meaning of dual innervation)

The effects of the parasympathetic stimulation are usually ____________________.

brief in duration and restricted to specific organs and sites (Remember that the opposing division has a long-lasting effects)

Autonomic fibers entering the thoracic intersect at which of the following plexuses?

cardiac plexus (Remember that this plexus is associated within the heart)

Parasympathetic preganglionic fibers of the vagus nerve entering the abdominopelvic cavity join the ____________________.

celiac plexus

Which plexus innervates the stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, and liver?

celiac plexus (Remember that this plexus is under the diaphram)

The revertebral (collateral) ganglia of the ANS include the _____________________.

celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric

What is unique to the sympathetic nervous system?

chain ganglia (Remember that these structures are just outside the vertebral column)

A state of awareness of and attention to external events and stimuli implies __________________.

consciousness (Remember that this state involves the cerebral cortex in a complex process)

What functions does the autonomic nervous system perform?

controlling respiratory functions during times of rest as well as times of activity (Remember that these are functions we normally are not mindful of)

Stimulation of alpha 1 receptors on a target cell triggers a _________________________.

depolarization that has an inhibitory effect (Remember that these cause peripheral blood vessels to constrict)

Schizophrenia may be caused by an excessive production of which neurotransmitter?

dopamine (Remember that low levels of this neurotransmitter will cause motor dysfunction)

Disturbance of which neurotransmitter produces motor problems, such as those found in Parkinson's disease?

dopamine (Remember that this disturbance is also linked to schizophrenia)

What is it called when an organ is innervated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions?

dual innervation (This means both divisions have ganglionic neurons that synapse in that organ)

In the lungs, autonomic tone allows for _______________.

finely controlled dilation and constriction of the airways (Remember that the lungs are dually innervated)

Don has had a long day at work. He comes home, eats dinner, relaxes on the couch, and watches a few television programs. Why type of response would you NOT expect to find in Don't body during this relaxation period?

increased respiratory activity (Remember that this is a part of the "fight or flight" response)

As a general rule, the sympathetic division ___________________.

increases the metabloic rate and reduces digestive and urinary functions

The higher centers of the CNS ____________________.

influence the effects of autonomic reflexes

Intramural ganglia are components of the parasympathetic division that are located _____________.

inside the tissues of visceral organs

The processing center of a visceral reflex is the _________________.

interneuron (Remember that these cells can create complex networks in the cerebral cortex)

In the parasympathetic division, second-order neurons originate in __________________.

intramural ganglia or ganglia associated with the target organs (Remember that these are usually close to the organ)

Cholinergic postganglionic sympathetic fibers that innervate the sweat glands of the skin and the blood vessels of the skeletal muscles are stimulated during exercise to ____________.

keep the body cool and provide oxygen and nutrients to active skeletal muscles (Remember that this involves getting rid of heat and feeding the muscle tissue)

The effect of modified neurons in the sympathetic division that secrete neurotransmitters is that they _________________.

last longer that those produced by direct sympathetic stimulation (Remember that the effects of the parasympathetic system are short-lived)

Both coordination and regulation of sympathetic function generally occur in centers in the _______________________.

medulla oblongata and spinal cord

Increasing stimulation to the reticular activating system (RAS) makes an individual ____________.

more alert to sensory information

The two types of parasympathetic receptors that occur on the postsynaptic membranes are _______________________.

nictotinic and muscarinic

At neuroeffector junctions, typical sympathetic postganglionic fibers release____________.

norepinephrine (Remember that this is produced in the adrenal medulla)

Nicotonic receptors ____________________.

open sodium channels when stimulated

Where dual innervation exists, the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) commonly have _____________________.

opposing effects (Remember the differences between these two divisions)

Which divison of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) innervated only visceral structures serviced by the cranial nerves or nerves lying within the abominopelvic cavity?

parasympathetic division (Remember that this is also known as the anabolic system)

Pelvic nerves carry which of the following types of connections?

parasympathetic neurons innervating the urinary bladder (Remember that these nerves are coming out of sacral segments of the vertebral column)

What is another name for the sympathetic chain ganglia?

paravertebral ganglia ( the sympathetic chain ganglia are found on both sides of the vertebral column)

Visceral reflexes are _______________.

polysynaptic and involuntary (Remember that these reflexes are initiated in the organs and can be modified by higher centers)

Which of the following visceral reflexes is controlled by the sympathetic division?

pupillary reflex (Remember that this reflex causes dilation)

What are the myelinated fibers called through which the preganglionic neurons pass to get to the sympathetic trunk?

rami communicans (These are the fibers leading from the spinal cord to the chain ganglia)

The autonomic nervous system _______________.

regulates "automatic" activities and is influenced by the hypothalamus (Remember that this is not controlled directly by the cortex)

The LOWEST level of integration to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) consists of _____________________.

regulatory centers in the brain stem that control the viscera (Remember that this level does not involve volitional regulation)

In the absence of stimuli, autonomic motor neurons ______________________.

show a background level of activity (Remember that this is also known as autonomic tone)

In the autonomic nervous system (ANS), simple reflexes that provide relatively rapid automatic response to stimuli are based in the _________________________.

spinal cord (Remember that there is no cognition involved here)

Sensory nerves deliver information to the central nervous system (CNS) along the ______________.

spinal nerves, cranial nerves, and autonomic nerves that innervate peripheral effectors (Think about all the structures that connect sensory neurons to the CNS)

Thoracolumber refers to which division?

sympathetic (The preganglionic fibers exit in the thoracolumber area, between segments T1 - L2 of the spinal cord)

During a crisis, the event necessary for the individual to cope with stressful and potentially dangerous situations is called ____________.

sympathetic activation (Remember that this event is an activation of the fight - or - flight response.)

Which division of the nervous system "Kicks in" during periods of exertion, stress, or emergency?

sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (Remember that the adrenal glands are directly connected to this division)

What kind of memory allows you to remember the shape and features of your own face throughout your lifetime?

tertiary memory (Remember that this is a type of long-term memory)

The ANS is a subdivision of which portion of the nervous system?

the PNS (The ANS directly interfaces with the motor division of the PNS)

Which organ is innervated solely by preganglionic neurons?

the adrenal gland ( innervation of this organ is followed by secretion of norepinephrine and a subsequent adrenalin rush.)

Which two components of the limbic system are essential to memory consolidation?

the amygdaloid body and hippocampus (Remember that one of these components is also involved with processing responses to fear)

Stimulation of the beta receptors on the heart muscle would result in ________________.

the formation of cAMP (Remember that this is a consequence of G protein activation)

Which division is also called the rest and digest system?

the parasympathetic nervous system (This is the division that stimulates the visceral organs)

What specific neurotransmitters are released by postganglionic fibers, stimulation or inhibition of activity depends on _________________.

the response of the membrane receptor to the presence of the nuerotransmitter. (Remember that this involves the postsynaptic membrane)

Where do preganglionic neurons for the parasympathetic division synapse with the ganglionic neurons?

the terminal ganglia (It is from the terminal ganglia the ganglionic neurons for the parasympathetic division arise)

In the autonomic nervous system, ________________.

two or more neurons control the activity of an effector, and a second visceral neuron is between the central nervous system and the effector. (Remember that there are ganglia involved here)

The telodentria of sympathetic postganglionic neurons release neurotransmistters through ________________.

varicosities

Postsynaptic cells of the sympathetic nervous system synapse with the cells they innervate through structures called __________________.

varicosities (Remember these are swollen glands)

The nerve bundle that carries preganglionic fibers to nearby sympathetic chain ganglion is the _______________________.

white ramus (Remember that this structure is myelinated)