Bms 9: The Autonomic Nervous System

Front 1

What response does the sympathetic nervous system elicit?

Back 1

The 'flight or fight' response.

Front 2

What response does the parasympathetic nervous system elicit?

Back 2

The 'rest and digest' response.

Front 3

What are some (6) specific responses the sympathetic nervous system creates?

Back 3

Increased Heart Rate
Increased Blood Pressure
Dilated pupils
Sweating
'Butterflies'
Shaking

Front 4

Where is blood diverted from when sympathetic nerves are active, and where is it diverted to?

Back 4

Taken from brain, gut and skin, diverted to muscles.

Front 5

What receptors are concerned with the sympathetic nervous system?

Back 5

Adrenoreceptors alpha and beta.

Front 6

What receptors are concerned with the parasympathetic nervous system?

Back 6

Acetylcholine receptors

Front 7

What are the two sections of nerves that make up most efferent neurones?

Back 7

Preganglionic and postganglionic.

Front 8

What type of receptor is a muscarinin receptor?

Back 8

G-Protein Coupled Receptor

Front 9

What type of receptor is an Adrenoreceptor?

Back 9

G-Protein Coupled Receptor

Front 10

What type of receptor is a Nicotinic ACh Receptor?

Back 10

Ligand gated ion channel

Front 11

What is the general anatomy of a parasympathetic system?

Back 11

A long pre-ganglionic neurone, a parasympathetic ganglion (with Nicotinic ACh receptors on it), and a short post-ganglionic neurone which leads to the effector organ, which uses ACh at the Muscarinic receptors at the NMJ.

Front 12

What is the general anatomy of a sympathetic system?

Back 12

A short pre-ganglionic neurone, a sympathetic ganglion (with Nicotinic ACh receptors on it), and a long post-ganglionic neurone which leads to the effector neurone, which uses Noradrenaline at the Adrenoreceptors at the NMJ.

Front 13

What are the two exceptions to the generalized anatomy of the sympathetic nervous systems?

Back 13

Adrenal medulla (large adrenal gland which acts as modified post-ganglionic neurones, Adrenaline and Noradrenaline released)

Sweat glands (signalling more similar to parasympathetic signalling, ACh acts on Muscarinin Receptors at the effector organ).

Front 14

What are the two main outflows in the parasympathetic system?

Back 14

Cranial and sacral.

Front 15

What drug can block the packaging of ACh in a vesicle?

Back 15

Vesamicol

Front 16

What drug can block the Ca2+ exocytosis of ACh?

Back 16

Botulinum Toxin

Front 17

What breaks down ACh in the synaptic cleft?

Back 17

Acetylcholinesterase

Front 18

What drug can block choline transport back into the presynaptic neurone?

Back 18

Hemicholinium

Front 19

What terms denote drugs that activate muscarinic acetylcholine receptors?

Back 19

Parasympathomimetic or cholinomimetic.

Front 20

What are the problems with using ACh as a drug?

Back 20

Unstable in plasma and not selective (has muscarinic and nicotinic effects).

Front 21

What is bethanechol and what are its characteristics?

Back 21

An agonist of ACh Receptors, not hydrolyzed by cholinesterase, very weak nicotinic agonist, primary muscarinic agonist.

Front 22

What are two natural plant compounds that are direct acting agonists?

Back 22

Muscarine and pilocarpine.

Front 23

What do indirect acting agonists do?

Back 23

Inhibit ACh-esterase, so ACh stays in the synaptic cleft for longer.

Front 24

What are two examples of reversible inhibitors of ACh-esterase?

Back 24

Physostigmine and neostigmine.

Front 25

What is an example of irreversible inhibitors of ACh-esterase?

Back 25

Organophosphates (sarine)

Front 26

What is the functional effect of parasympathetic activation in the heart? Targets and effects.

Back 26

Sinoatrial node (decreased rate)
Atrial Muscle (decreased force)
Atrioventricular Node (decreased conduction velocity)
Ventricular muscle (no effect)

Front 27

What is the effect of parasympathetic activation on blood vessels?

Back 27

Acetylcholine dilates vessels, but there are no parasympathetic nerves.

Front 28

What are two exceptions to this?

Back 28

Erectile tissue and salivary glands.

Front 29

What is the functional effect of parasympathetic activation in the GI tract? Targets and effects.

Back 29

Targets: Smooth muscle, sphincter, glands.

Effects: Increased motility, dilatation and gastric acid secretion.

Front 30

What can the drugs bethancol and neostigmine be used for in terms of GI tract control?

Back 30

Increase peristalsis (activate muscarinic receptors)
Stimulate urination (activate muscarinic receptors on bladder detrusor muscle)

Front 31

What is the functional effect of parasympathetic activation in the eye? Targets and effects.

Back 31

Targets: Pupil and ciliary muscle
Effects: Constriction and contraction.

Front 32

What is a therapeutic use for cholinomimetics in terms of the eye?

Back 32

Pilocarpine (lipid soluble so diffuses quickly)
Ecothiophate: A long acting organophosphate AChE inhibitor.

Front 33

What are two antimuscarinic drugs?

Back 33

Atropine and hyoscine.

Front 34

What are the characteristics of these drugs?

Back 34

Competitive, reversible antagonists.

Front 35

What is the functional effect of muscarinic receptor antagonists in the heart? Targets and effects.

Back 35

Sinoatrial node: Increased rate
Atrial muscle: Increased force
Atrioventricular node: Increased conduction velocity
Ventricular Muscle: No effect

Front 36

What is the functional effect of muscarinic receptor antagonists in the eye? Targets and effects.

Back 36

Targets: Salivary glands, lacrimal glands, pupil, ciliary muscle.

Front 37

What are the functional effects of muscarinic receptor antagonists in the lungs, bladder and GI tract? Targets and effects.

Back 37

Bronchi: Dilation
Bladder: Relaxation
GI Tract: Decreased Motility (contriction, inhibition of secretion)

Front 38

What antimuscarinic drug can help treat asthma?

Back 38

Ipratropium.