The Autonomic Nervous System

Prof Godfrey
 The Autonomic Nervous System
• The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the
division of the body’s nervous system which controls
all involuntary functions –
• This neural network allows the brain to involuntarily
(subconsciously or unconsciously) monitor changes in
the internal environment and control the activities of the
viscera.
• Activity of the ANS is regulated by brain control centers
in the hypothalamus and brainstem.
• It is a functional division of the nervous system, with its
structural parts in both the central nervous
system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
 Organization of the Autonomic
Nervous System

• The division of the ANS

into the: sympathetic
Nervous system(SNS) and
parasympathetic
Nervous system (PNS)
systems is purely
anatomical:
Generally, the SNS and PsNS motor pathways consist of a
two-neuron series: a preganglionic neuron with a cell body
in the CNS and a postganglionic neuron with a cell
body(ganglion) in the periphery that innervates target
tissues
 Basic Anatomy of ANS Neurons

• Preganglionic motor neuron of the SNS and PsNS

– cell body of the neurons lie in brain and spinal cord
– axon is myelinated fiber that extends to autonomic ganglion
• Postganglionic motor neuron
– cell body lies outside the CNS in an autonomic ganglion
– axon is unmyelinated fiber that terminates in a visceral
effector
In the sympathetic nervous
system:
•The pre-ganglionic neuron is
relatively short and normally
synapses within a
specialised chain of
sympathetic ganglia adjacent
to the vertebral column –
which forms the
sympathetic chain
•The post-ganglionic neuron is
relatively long and exits the
sympathetic chain to travel to
the target tissue.
In the parasympathetic
nervous system:
•The pre-ganglionic neuron
is relatively long and travels
along cranial nerves (e.g.
vagus nerve), or as
the pelvic splanchnic nerves
if arising from the sacral
segment of spinal cord –
•They synapse close to or
even within the wall of
the target tissue. The post-
ganglionic neuron is
consequently relatively short.
 Sympathetic cell bodies and ganglia
• The cell bodies of the SNS lies
within the intermediolateral
columns of the spinal cord gray
matter (T1-L2/L3).
• In a transverse section of the
spinal cord, the
intermediolateral columns can
be seen as the lateral horns of
the spinal cord.
• The centers of the SNS give rise
to preganglionic fibers, which
synapse with SNS ganglia.
• There are two groups of
autonomic ganglia:
Paravertebral and Prevertebral.
PARAVERTEBRAL GANGLIA:
• are found on the left and right
side of the body, parallel to
the vertebral column (hence the
naming paravertebral), and are
linked together in a chain to
form the left and right
sympathetic trunk or
sympathetic chain.
• Each trunk begins from the
base of the skull with the
superior cervical ganglion.
• The trunks unite at the level of
coccyx and form the ganglion
impar.
PREVERTEBRAL GANGLIA
(collateral ganglia,
preaortic ganglia)
• lie anterior to the
vertebral column,
forming several
plexuses around the
major branches of the
abdominal aorta, such
as celiac ganglia
around celiac trunk,
Superior and inferior
Mesenteric ganglia.
 Sympathetic fibers
• Preganglionic fibers leave the
spinal cord through the
anterior roots and anterior
branches of spinal nerves as
the white rami communicants
which then synapse with
either paravertebral or
prevertebral ganglia.
• Postganglionic fibers from the
sympathetic trunk form the
gray rami communicants
which enter the branches of
all 31 spinal nerves.
 Distribution of the Sympathetic Fibers
• Sympathetic innervation of the head and
neck comes from the postganglionic fibers of
the superior cervical ganglion of the
sympathetic trunk
Sympathetic innervation of the thoracic viscera comes from the
cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves, which contribute to cardiac,
esophageal, and pulmonary plexuses

Cardiopulmonary
splanchnic nerves
originate from the
cervical and
upper thoracic
ganglia
Postganglionic SNS input for abdomen and pelvis comes from the
greater, lesser, and least thoracic splanchnic (T7-T11), and lumbar
splanchnic nerves (T12-L3).
Greater thoracis splanchnic nerve
 Parasympathetic Cell bodies
• The cell bodies of the
PsNS are in the
brainstem and S2-S4
segments of the spinal
cord.
• PsNS has its ganglia
placed near target
organs of the
abdomen and added
to the branches
of cranial nerves
 PSNS………………
• The brainstem centers
provide cranial parasympathetic
outflow.
• Preganglionic PSNS branches are
added to
– Edinger Westphal nucleus in relation to
the oculomotor (CN III),
– Superior salivatory N. in relation to facial
(CN VII),
– Inferior Salivatory nucleus in relation to
glossopharyngeal (CN IX), and
– Dorsal nucleus of vagus in relation to
vagus (CN X) nerves.
• They synapse with PSNS ganglia,
which provide postganglionic fibers
for the head and neck structures
 The PSNS ganglia are the:
• Ciliary ganglion – added to
the oculomotor nerve (CN
III)
• Pterygopalatine ganglion –
added to the facial
nerve (CN VII)
• Otic ganglion – added to
the glossopharyngeal
nerve (CN IX) contro;s the
parotid gland
• Submandibular ganglion –
also added to the facial
nerve (CN VII)
 Sacral parasympathetic
• Sacral parasympathetic
outflow originates from S2-S4
segments of the spinal cord.
• The preganglionic fibers exit
the spinal cord via the pelvic
splanchnic nerves.
• They synapse with PSNS
ganglia found on or in the
walls of their target organs.
• Sacral outflow supplies the
descending colon, Sigmoid
colon, rectum, bladder, penis
or clitoris
Functions of divisions of the ANS
• SNS is the part of the ANS which is mostly active during
stress, while the PSNS dominates during rest. Thus, the
common phrase that describes the body state during SNS
domination is “fight or flight”, while for the PSNS is “rest and
digest”.
• Many organs are controlled primarily by either the
sympathetic or the parasympathetic division.
Sometimes the two divisions have opposite effects
on the same organ.
• Overall, the two divisions work together to ensure
that the body responds appropriately to different
situations.
Function of ANS……………….
• The autonomic nervous system is a control
system that acts largely unconsciously and
regulates bodily functions, such as the
– heart rate,
– digestion,
– respiratory rate,
– pupillary response,
– urination, and
– sexual arousal
• By regulating activity of all the smooth
muscles, cardiac muscle & certain glands
 Sympathetic Responses
• Dominance by the sympathetic system is caused by
physical or emotional stress -- “E situations”
– emergency, embarrassment, excitement, exercise
• Alarm reaction = flight or fight response
– dilation of pupils
– increase of heart rate, force of contraction & Blood
pressure
– decrease in blood flow to nonessential organs
– increase in blood flow to skeletal & cardiac muscle
– airways dilate & respiratory rate increases
– blood glucose level increase
 Parasympathetic Responses
• Enhance “rest-and-digest” activities
• Mechanisms that help conserve and restore body
energy during times of rest
• Normally dominate over sympathetic impulses
• Parasympathetic responses = salivation, lacrimation,
urination, digestion & defecation and 3 “decreases”---
decreased heart rate, diameter of airways and diameter of
pupil
• Paradoxical fear when there is no escape route or no way
to win
– causes massive activation of parasympathetic division
– loss of control over urination and defecation
 Symptoms of Autonomic Disorders
• In men, difficulty initiating and maintaining an erection
(erectile dysfunction).
• Dizziness or light-headedness due to an excessive decrease
in blood pressure when a person stands (orthostatic
hypotension).
• People may sweat less or not at all and thus become
intolerant of heat. The eyes and mouth may be dry.
• urinary incontinence, often because the bladder is
overactive.
• OR Urine retention because the bladder underactive.
• Constipation may occur, or control of bowel movements
may be lost.
• The pupils may not dilate and narrow (constrict) as light
changes.
•Thank You