The Autonomic Nervous System

(ANS)

• Important for regulating many physiological

functions
• Largely outside voluntary control

• Exerts control over

– smooth muscle (vascular and visceral)
– exocrine secretion
– rate and force of contraction in the heart
 Two divisions of the ANS

• Parasympathetic nervous system

• Sympathetic nervous system
 Organisation of sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems
• Two neurones arranged in series
Central Peripheral Target cell
Nervous system Nervous system

Preganglionic Postganglionic
neurone neurone
Sympathetic Parasympathetic

From: Rang et al
Pharmacology 6th Ed.
Organisation of the sympathetic division

• Thoracolumbar origin

• Preganglionic neurones arise from segments T1

to L2 (or L3)

• Most synapse with postganglionic neurones in

the paravertebral chain of ganglia (sympathetic
chain)

• Long postganglionic neuron

Organisation of the parasympathetic division

• Craniosacral origin

• Preganglionic fibres travel in cranial nerves (III,

VII, IX & X) or sacral outflow from S2-S4

• Synapse with neurones in ganglia close to the

target tissue

• Short postganglionic neurones

From: Rang et al
Pharmacology 6th Ed.
 Arrangement of pre- and post-
ganglionic neurones

Sympathetic
Preganglionic Postganglionic
Target
tissue

Parasympathetic
Post-
Preganglionic ganglionic
Target
tissue
 Preganglionic neurones of both
divisions release acetylcholine
Preganglionic Postganglionic

Acetylcholine (ACh)

ACh acts on nicotinic ACh

receptors on the postganglionic
cell.
 Neurotransmitters in the sympathetic
nervous system

nicotinic ACh receptors adrenergic receptors

Preganglionic Postganglionic

effector cell

acetylcholine (ACh) noradrenaline (NA)

(norepinephrine)

remember: the exceptions of sympathetic cholinergic fibers.

 Neurotransmitters at the postganglionic
cell to effector cell synapse
• Postganglionic sympathetic neurones are usually
noradrenergic (use noradrenaline (NA) as a
transmitter)

• Postganglionic parasympathetic neurones are usually

cholinergic (have ACh as transmitter)

• The exceptions of sympathetic innervation include

The postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers to :
• the sweat glands other than that at the palm and sole
• to the piloerector muscles of the hairs
• to a very few blood vessels (in the skeletal muscles)are
cholinergic
 Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla
are like specialised postganglionic
sympathetic neurones

Preganglionic

chromaffin
cell adrenaline
(epinephrine)
acetylcholine (ACh)

adrenal chromaffin cells release

adrenaline which circulates in the
blood stream
 Neurotransmitters in the
parasympathetic nervous system

nicotinic ACh receptors muscarinic ACh receptors

Preganglionic Postganglionic

effector cell
Acetylcholine (ACh)
 Vasomotor tone

sympathetic output

decreased normal increased

+ ++ +++
α1 α1 α1

vasodilation vasomotor tone vasoconstriction

 Innervation of the
Sympathetic nerve
bladder Parasympathetic nerve
supply
supply S2
L1
S3
L2
Pelvic nerve S4
L3

Sympathetic
chain
Somatic
Hypogastric nerve supply
ganglion S2
S3
Hypogastric
S4
nerve Urethra
Pudendal nerve
External sphincter
 Stretch receptors
Center
S2,3,4, IVP ↑
Contraction of wall
Afferents
Pelvic Nerve
Relaxation of int. sphincter
Efferent
Pelvic Nerve
Relaxation of ext. sphincter