Last edited: 10/6/2021

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Autonomic Nervous System Medical Editor: Jan Camille Santico

OUTLINE II) SOMATIC & AUTONOMIC FIBERS/NEURONS

I) DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (A) SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

II) SOMATIC & AUTONOMIC FIBERS/NEURONS
It only takes one motor neuron (a.k.a. somatic motor
III) AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
IV) SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA fibers, alpha motor neurons) to reach its target/effector
V) APPENDIX organ
VI) REVIEW QUESTIONS Origin: anterior horn of the spinal cord
VII) REFERENCES Target: skeletal muscles
At the synaptic level, the neuron releases acetylcholine,
which binds to the nicotinic receptors on muscles to
I) DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
stimulate contraction
(A) CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
Discussed in different lectures

(B) PERIFPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

The peripheral nervous system is divided into two systems:
Figure 3 Somatic NS Nerve fibers
(1) SENSORY SYSTEM
(B) AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
It takes two motor neurons to reach its target/effector organ
(2) MOTOR SYSTEM
The motor system is further divided into: (i) Pre-ganglionic neuron
 Origin: brainstem/spinal cord
(i) Somatic Nervous System  Target: synapses with a ganglion
 Under voluntary control
 Example: contraction of the biceps brachii (ii) Post-ganglionic neuron
 Origin: ganglion
(ii) Autonomic Nervous System  Target: effector organ (e.g., skeletal muscle,
 Under involuntary control viscera, etc.)
 Example: contraction of visceral organs
 Divided into three branches:
1. Sympathetic Nervous System
2. Parasympathetic Nervous System
3. Enteric Nervous System

Figure 4 ANS fibers

Remember
o Synapse

o Ganglion

Figure 1 Divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System

o Pre-ganglionic Fibers/Neurons

o Post-ganglionic Fibers/Neurons

o Splanchnic nerve (will be discussed later)

Figure 2 Divisions of the nervous system [Krasiserscience]

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM NEURO PHYSIOLOGY: Note #41. 1 of 5

 III) AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (B) GANGLIONIC NEURONS/FIBERS
(1) Sympathetic Nervous System
(A) LOCATION
Pathway:
(1) Sympathetic Nervous System
“Fight, Flight, or Fright stage”
Activated in stressful situations
Location: Spinal Cord, T1 – L2 (thoracolumbar)
Action potentials/signals from the sympathetic nervous
system pass through this thoracolumbar outflow (i) Short pre-ganglionic neurons
(2) Parasympathetic Nervous System o Cholinergic fibers

“Rest and Digest stage”

Location: Brainstem (CN III, VII, IX, X) and Spinal Cord, o Sympathetic ganglia
S2-S4 (craniosacral)  are located far from the target organs.
Thus, these cranial nerves have parasympathetic activity  This is explained further in sympathetic ganglia
Action potentials/signals from the parasympathetic
nervous system pass through this craniosacral outflow (ii) Long post-ganglionic neurons
Table 1 Origins of the Parasympathetic Outflow of Cranial Adrenergic fibers - release norepinephrine at the synaptic
Nerves junction
Cranial Nerve Origin (2) Parasympathetic Nervous System
CN III: Oculomotor Nerve Edinger-Westphal nucleus
Pathway:
CN VII: Facial Nerve Superior salivatory nucleus
CN IX: Glossopharyngeal Inferior salivatory nucleus
Nerve
CN X: Vagus Nerve Dorsal vagal nucleus
(i) Long pre-ganglionic neurons
o Cholinergic fibers
Table 2 Parasympathetic Outflow of Sacral Spinal Nerves
 Travel until they reach the target organ
Spinal Nerve Origin Peripheral Nerves
S2 (ii) Terminal / Intramural ganglia
Lateral horn of Pelvic splanchnic
S3 The only type of parasympathetic ganglia Located at or
the spinal cord nerves
S4 inside the target organ

(iii) Short post-ganglionic neurons

Remember
Sympathetic Nervous System Remember:
o Thoracolumbar outflow;
Sympathetic Nervous System
o spinal cord, T1 – L2
Short pre-ganglionic neurons: cholinergic
Parasympathetic Nervous System Long post-ganglionic neurons: adrenergic
o Craniosacral outflow;
Parasympathetic Nervous System
o brainstem and spinal cord, S2-S4
Long pre-ganglionic neurons: cholinergic
Short post-ganglionic neurons: cholinergic

Figure 6 Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Fibers

Figure 5 Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Outflow

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 IV) SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA (5) <OR> Exits as its own nerve: splanchnic nerve

A cross-section of the spinal cord has:

o Anterior / ventral grey horn
o Posterior/dorsal grey horn
o Intermediate lateral grey horn
(6) <OR> Connects with another type of ganglia
 Only between T1 – L2 t
(1) Pathway of Sympathetic Outflow:

 Named this way due to its location in front of the

vertebral column and near the aorta
 These ganglia synapse with the splanchnic nerves
which innervate the abdominal and pelvic viscera

(2) Chain / Paravertebral Ganglion

Named this way because it is a chain of ganglia flanking
the vertebral column
These ganglia are linked, allowing the fibers to ascend,
descend, or exit at the same level
From the chain/paravertebral ganglion, the sympathetic
fibers have several possible pathways
(3) Out at Level

(7) Ascends a Level

The sympathetic outflow can then act as various fibers:

o Pilomotor fibers
 will innervate the arrector pili muscle, which
causes hair to stand erect
o Vasomotor fibers – vasoconstriction
o Pseudo motor fibers – sweat glands
 Sweat glands: post-ganglionic release
acetylcholine instead of norepinephrine
Some Exceptions: like
o adrenal glands
 The nerves project directly onto the medullary
cells without synapsing.
 The cells themselves play the role of the
postganglionic neurons by releasing
neurotransmitters, such
as epinephrine (adrenaline), directly into the
bloodstream. This results in a widespread
sympathetic response. [Kenhub]
(4) Descends a Level

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 V) APPENDIX

Figure 7 Overview of the different sympathetic ganglia and pathways

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 VI) REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) Which of the following is under the control of the

somatic nervous system?
a) Cardiac muscle
b) Quadriceps muscle
c) Tunica media layer of arteries
d) Sweat glands
2) Which term refers to a group of neuronal cell bodies
in the peripheral nervous system?
a) Nucleus
b) Ganglion
c) Myelin sheath
d) Oligodendrocytes
3) The sympathetic nervous system originates from
which regions of the spinal cord?
a) Cranial and Thoracic
b) Cranial and Sacral
c) Thoracic and Lumbar
d) Lumbar and Sacral
4) Which of the following cranial nerves has
parasympathetic activity?
a) Olfactory nerve
b) Abducens nerve
c) Facial nerve
d) Hypoglossal nerve
5) The pelvic splanchnic nerves originate from which
spinal nerves?
a) T12 – L5
b) L1 – S2
c) L5 – S4
d) S2 – S4
6) Which of the following statements is correct?
a) The pre-ganglionic neurons of the sympathetic
nervous system are long
b) The post-ganglionic neurons of the sympathetic
nervous system are long
c) The pre-ganglionic neurons of the parasympathetic
nervous system are short
d) The post-ganglionic neurons of the parasympathetic
nervous system are long
7) What neurotransmitter is released by the
sympathetic post-ganglionic neurons?
a) Acetylcholine
b) Dopamine
c) Epinephrine
d) Norepinephrine
8) Complete the pathway: intermediate lateral grey horn
 ventral root  ventral ramus  spinal nerves 
____________  chain/paravertebral ganglion
a) Preaortic ganglion
b) Pre-ganglionic fibers
c) White rami communicans
d) Grey rami communicans
9) Which term refers to sympathetic fibers which
synapse at the ganglion and exit as its own nerve?
a) Splanchnic nerve
b) Sub-diaphragmatic ganglion
c) Pre-vertebral nerve
d) White rami communicans

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

VII) REFERENCES

● https://kaiserscience.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/the-nervous-
system-overview-the-autonomic-nervous-system.jpg
● https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/sympathetic-
nervous-system
● VIDEO LECTURE SOURCES TO BE INSERTED

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