Why Study the Autonomic Nervous System?

Therapeutics
ANS
Pharmacology
Pathophysiology
Disease State
Management
Medicinal
Chemistry
Organization of The Nervous System
Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System
Somatic Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Copyright 2005
Pearson Education, Inc.,
publishing as Benjamin
Cummings
Figure 15.3
Anatomical Differences in Sympathetic
and Parasympathetic Divisions
Issue from different
regions of the CNS
Sympathetic also
called the
thoracolumbar
division
Parasympathetic
also called the
craniosacral
division
Copyright 2005 Pearson
Education, Inc., publishing
as Benjamin Cummings
The Parasympathetic Division
Figure 15.5
Copyright 2005
Pearson Education,
Inc., publishing as
Benjamin
Cummings
Sympathetic Division of the ANS
Figure 15.7
Copyright 2005 Pearson
Education, Inc., publishing as
Benjamin Cummings
Anatomical Differences in Sympathetic
and Parasympathetic Divisions
Figure 15.4a
Copyright 2005 Pearson
Education, Inc., publishing as
Benjamin Cummings
Anatomical Differences in Sympathetic
and Parasympathetic Divisions
Figure 15.4b
MCMP 407
Action Potential
Na
+

a

a

b

ACH
Acetylcholinesterase
Na
+

Parasympathetic Ganglionic Synapse
Preganglionic neuron Postganglionic neuron
Nicotinic
Receptor
MCMP 407
Action Potential
Na
+

ACH
Acetylcholinesterase
Parasympathetic Organ Synapse
K
+

G
Effector
Organ
Postganglionic neuron
Muscarinic
Receptor
MCMP 407
Summary of parasympathetic neurons
and synapses
Preganglionic neurons
Long
Synapse with postganglionic neurons at or near organ
Release acetylcholine (ACH) to activate nicotinic receptors on
postganglionic neurons

Postganglionic neurons
Short
Synapse on the target organ
Release acetylcholine (ACH) to activate muscarinic receptors on
the target organ
MCMP 407
Action Potential
Na
+

a

a

b

ACH
Acetylcholinesterase
Na
+

Sympathetic Ganglionic Synapse
Preganglionic neuron Postganglionic neuron
Nicotinic
Receptor
MCMP 407
Action Potential
Na
+

NE
Sympathetic Organ Synapse
Effector
Organ
Postganglionic neuron
Adrenergic
Receptor
MCMP 407
Summary of sympathetic neurons
and synapses
Preganglionic neurons
Short
Synapse with postganglionic neurons near spinal cord
Release acetylcholine (ACH) to activate nicotinic receptors on
postganglionic neurons

Postganglionic neurons
Long
Synapse on the target organ
Release norepinephrine to activate adrenergic receptors on target
organs
MCMP 407
Sweat glands:
Postganglionic neurons
involved with stress-related
excretion release
norepinephrine (sweaty
palms)
Postganglionic neurons
involved with
thermoregulation release
acetylcholine
Exceptions in the sympathetic nervous system:
MCMP 407
Kidneys:
Postganglionic neurons to the
smooth muscle of the renal
vascular bed release dopamine
Adrenal gland:
Preganglionic neurons do not
synapse in the paraverterbral
sympathetic ganglion
Preganglionic neurons synapse
directly on the adrenal gland,
release acetylcholine, and
activate nicotinic receptors on
the adrenal gland
Adrenal glands release
epinephrine into systemic
circulation
Exceptions in the sympathetic nervous system:
Most postganglionic sympathetic
neurons release what
neurotransmitter?
MCMP 407
How do drugs influence the ANS?
Mimic or block the effects of the two primary neurotransmitters,
Acetylcholine and Norepinephrine/Epinephrine

Drugs that mimic neurotransmitters are referred to as receptor
agonists
These drugs activate receptors

Drugs that block neurotransmitters are referred to as receptor
antagonists
These drugs block the endogenous neurotransmitters from
activating receptors

MCMP 407
Classification of drugs affecting the ANS
Parasympathetic nervous system

Mimic acetylcholine = cholinergic = muscarinic agonists = parasympathomimetic

Block acetylcholine = anticholinergic = muscarinic antagonist = parasympatholytic

Sympathetic nervous system

Mimic norepinephrine = adrenergic = adrenergic agonist = sympathomimetic

Block norepinephrine = antiadrenergic = adrenergic antagonist = sympatholytic