Chapter 29: Introduction to the Autonomic Nervous System
The nervous system is closely linked with both the immune system and the endocrine system. What neurotransmitter is used by the preganglionic cells?
Acetylcholine
Which receptor is found in the beta cells of the pancreas?
Alpha-2
The nurse is caring for a client who is known to have deficient levels of dopamine because of a dietary lack of tyrosine. The nurse should expect to assess for evidence of:
decreased adrenergic response.
The body uses tyrosine in the diet to make what substance?
Norepinephrine
The nurse administers intravenous (IV) norepinephrine to the client diagnosed with shock. The nurse would predict which receptor subtypes to be activated resulting in a stimulatory response? Select all that apply.
-Alpha 1 -Alpha 2 -Beta 1
The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing pain. The client describes the pain as "9" on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain. What nursing interventions would be necessary for the nurse to implement? Select all that apply.
-Assess blood pressure. -Count respirations. -Evaluate pupils.
What does the body create using choline?
Acetylcholine
Nicotinic receptors would be found in which location?
Adrenal medulla
A client is experiencing sympathetic stimulation in response to a stressful event. Which substance will most affect the client's sodium and water retention?
Aldosterone
The anatomy and physiology instructor is discussing adrenergic receptors with the nursing class. What adrenergic receptor would the instructor tell the students is found in the blood vessels, iris, and urinary bladder?
Alpha 1
Nicotinic receptors are found in which area?
Autonomic basal ganglia
A patient is admitted to the emergency room after a car accident. Based on the experience of the emergency room nurse, what system will affect a response to the emergency?
Autonomic nervous system
Which effect results from activation of beta2 receptors?
Bronchodilation
What is the resulting physiologic effect when the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated?
Increased GI motility
Which would be assessed with parasympathetic nervous system stimulation?
Increased gastric motility
A patient is experiencing a heart rate of 42 beats per minute. Which system contributes to bradycardia?
Parasympathetic nervous system
A graduate of a nursing program is scheduled to take the NCLEX today. The test-taker's heart is racing and pupils are dilated. What can the test-taker attribute to this reaction?
Sympathetic nervous system
The nurse is conducting an assessment of a newly admitted client. What assessment finding should suggest to the nurse that the client's muscarinic cholinergic receptors are being stimulated?
The client has "pinpoint" pupils.
A famous magician is known for his outlandish feats, such as being underwater for 10 minutes while removing handcuffs. Some have postulated that he has control over his autonomic nervous system in ways that most people do not. What would be an example of an autonomic response he may have control over?
The rate of his heart beat
The physiology instructor explains to the nursing students that beta-2 stimulation leads to:
Vasodilation of blood vessels
The functions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) can be broadly described as:
activities designed to maintain a constant internal environment, to respond to stress or emergencies, and to repair body tissues.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is having a sympathetic response. A sympathetic response involves:
an increase in blood pressure, bronchi dilation, and decreased bowel sounds
A client has begun to experience post-operative pain and the client's heart rate has increased from 72 beats per minute to 96 beats per minute. The nurse should attribute this change to the effect of:
stimulation of beta1 receptors in the sympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are continuously at work in our bodies. This continual action provides internal homeostasis to all parts of the body. What is internal homeostasis referred to as?
Balance
The anatomy and physiology instructor is discussing adrenergic receptors with the nursing class. What adrenergic receptor would the instructor tell the students is found in the heart and can stimulate increased myocardial activity and increase heart rate?
Beta 1
A client with asthma is prescribed albuterol to dilate the bronchioles. The nurse understands that this drug is likely acting on which receptors?
Beta-2
The nurse is assessing a client. What assessment finding is the clearest indicator of autonomic function?
The client's respiratory rate is 22 breaths per minute
Sympathetic stimulation of the heart causes:
an increased rate and force of myocardial contraction.
A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is experiencing bronchoconstriction. When choosing interventions to address this problem, the nurse should aim to influence the client's autonomic nervous system by stimulating:
beta-adrenergic receptors.
Which is a sympathetic nervous system response? (Select all that apply.)
-Bronchial dilation -Increased sweating -Pupil dilation
When working with a client who is experiencing a stress response, the nurse should anticipate what effects? Select all that apply.
-Tachycardia -Pupil dilation -Diaphoresis
The muscarinic1 and muscarinic3 receptors of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) are similar in function. Which functions do these two receptors have in common? Select all that apply.
-decrease dopamine release -increase smooth muscle contraction -increase glandular secretion
A client has had a stroke and computed tomography reveals infarcts in multiple brain regions. An infarct in which region is most likely to affect the function of the client's autonomic nervous system?
Hypothalamus
Adrenergic nerves use tyrosine from the diet to make which neurotransmitters?
Norepinephrine
The nurse assessed a client at 0800 and obtained a blood pressure of 111/70 mmHg. Two hours later, the client's blood pressure is 130/81 mmHg. The nurse should attribute this change to what action within the autonomic nervous system?
Stimulation of beta-receptors
A client has been prescribed a medication that antagonizes the beta receptors of the sympathetic nervous system. What assessment finding should the nurse attribute to the effects of this medication?
The client's blood pressure is decreased
When there is stimulation of the SNS, blood is diverted away from the GI tract. What indicates this diversion?
Decreased bowel sounds
The nursing instructor is explaining the role of the parasympathetic nervous system in influencing body functions. Which change in a patient's body functions would be directly related to the stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Decreased heart rate
