Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): A division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary physiological functions, including heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.
Sympathetic Nervous System: A branch of ANS responsible for "fight or flight" responses, increasing heart rate, dilating bronchi, and inhibiting digestion.
Parasympathetic Nervous System: A branch of ANS promoting "rest and digest" activities, decreasing heart rate, constricting bronchi, and stimulating digestion.
Dual Innervation: Most organs receive nerve fibers from both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, often with antagonistic effects, allowing fine regulation of organ function.
Autonomic Ganglia: Clusters of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system where preganglionic fibers synapse with postganglionic fibers.
Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers such as acetylcholine (ACh) and norepinephrine (NE) that transmit signals across synapses in the ANS.
1. What is the autonomic nervous system primarily responsible for?
2. What is the primary role of neurotransmitters and their receptors in the nervous system?
3. How do sensory receptors and afferent pathways differ in their roles within the sensory system?
Sensory Receptor — modality?
Detects specific stimuli like touch, temperature, or pain.
Autonomic Nervous System — division?
Controls involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion.
Neurotransmitter — cholinergic?
Uses acetylcholine as the signaling molecule.
Autonomic Nervous System — function?
Controls involuntary body functions.
Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic — difference?
Fight/flight vs rest/digest.
Dual Innervation — definition?
Organs receive both sympathetic and parasympathetic input.
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