Chapter 15
Autonomic Nervous System & Visceral Reflexes

(Updated Sept. 30, 2009)

 

  1. Understand the general properties and functions of the ANS.
  2. Know the effectors of the ANS.
  3. Understand the general signal pathway for the ANS (i.e. where do ANS signals begin and where do they end)
  4. Understand what the word “autonomic” means and why the system is called the autonomic nervous system.
  5. Understand what visceral reflexes are and how they work.  Know the five components of the reflex arc in order.
  6. Understand how the baroreflex works.
  7. Know the two divisions of the ANS and understand how the two divisions innervate organs.  (do they innervate different organs or the same organs.)  Know how they affect the organs differently.
  8. Know the functional differences between the two divisions.
  9. Understand what autonomic tone is.
  10. Know what specific parts of the CNS the sympathetic presynaptic neurons originate in and which parts the parasympathetic neurons originate in. (hint: why is one division called craniosacral and the other thoracolumbar)
  11. Know the spinal cord gray matter location that the fibers originate in.
  12. Understand the relationship between the sympathetic division and the adrenal glands.
  13. Know which cranial nerves are associated with the parasympathetic division.
  14. Know about the enteric nervous system.
  15. Know the primary neurotransmitter released from sympathetic postganglionic neurons and what effect this NT has on organs such as the heart. 
  16. Know which neurotransmitter is released from parasympathetic postganglionic neurons and what effect this NT has on organs such as the heart.
  17. Understand what determines the effects of the ANS on its target cell.  (is it the transmitter, the receptor or both)
  18. Know what the terms cholinergic and adrenergic refer to.
  19. Understand the entire section on dual innervation.
  20. Understand the meaning of cooperative effects and antagonistic effects.
  21. Understand how the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions control the iris, blood pressure, respiration (breathing), blood glucose, waste elimination, heart rate, digestion, blood vessels, sweating, kidneys, clitoral and penile erection and orgasm.
  22. Be able to recognize types of activities that activate the sympathetic division and the types that activate the parasympathetic division.  (i.e. resting, watching a movie, playing tennis, running from an alligator, having dinner, etc.)
  23. Understand what sympathetic tone and vasomotor tone are and know how vasomotor tone is important in determining the areas of the body blood is sent to.
  24. Know the ANS control centers. (what parts of the CNS control the ANS?)
  25. Know the effects of the following drugs on the ANS: sympathomimetics, sympatholytics, parasympathomimetics, parasympatholytics.
  26. Understand how Prozac and MAO inhibitors work in the nervous system to manage clinical depression.
  27. Understand how caffeine keeps us awake.
  28. Understand how sudden fear can cause an elderly heart patient to have a heart attack.