AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

By
Dr C.M. Okeke

1
 Introduction
• Consists of the motor nerves that supply the
internal organs (viscera)and blood vessels,
together with their associated parts of the CNS
make up the autonomic system
• It is subdivided into two: sympathetic and
parasympathetic
• Autonomic nerves work together with afferent
visceral nerves (which are not strictly part of
autonomic nerves)
2
 Introduction cont’d
• The afferent fibres conduct sensory
impulses from viscera to the CNS
• The efferent fibres run from CNS to supply
smooth muscles and glands
• For both sympathetic and parasympathetic
system, the efferent nerves exit the CNS
and synapse in a ganglion outside of the
CNS before reaching the organ of supply
3
 Introduction cont’d
• The nerve that run from the CNS to the ganglion
is called the preganglionic neuron. Their cell
bodies are located in the CNS
• Thee nerve that run from the ganglion to the
effector organ is called the postganglionic
neruron. Their cell bodies are located in the
ganglion
• The autonomic efferent nerve fibres to glands
are called secretomotor nerves
4
 Component of ANS
• Automonic nervous system involves central
part and peripheral parts
• The central part of autonomic nervous system
are located in the following:
 Cerebrum: visceral centres of the cerebrum
 Brainstem: Reticular formation and in the
general visceral nuclei of cranial nerves.
 Spinal cord: Intermediolateral grey column.

5
 Component of ANS cont’d
• The peripheral part of autonomic nervous
system is made up of all autonomic nerves
(both sympathetic and parasympathetic)
and their associated autonomic ganglia
throughout the body
• Many of these nerves and ganglia are
related to cranial and spinal nerves.

6
 Sympathetic Preganglionic Neurons
• The cell bodies of sympathetic preganglionic neurons
are located in the intermediolateral grey column of
the spinal cord in the thoracic and upper two lumbar
segments
• Therefore, their fibres are called thoracolumbar
outflow
• These fibres join spinal nerves as they exit the spinal
cord
• After a short course in the spinal nerves, they enter
the sympathetic trunk (where they synapse) through
the white rami communicantes
7
8
 Sympathetic postganglionic fibres
• The cell bodies of the postglionnic neurons lie in the
sympathetic trunks.
• Their axons now re-enter ventral ramus of spinal
nerves through grey rami communicantes
 These axons supply skin (sweat glands and arrector
pilorum muscle)
 Also some axons from the sympathetic trunk follow
blood vessels to supply them
 Yet some axons (visceral branches) run directly to
some autonomic nerve plexus in the thorax,
abdomen and pelvis to supply the viscera 9
10
 Sympathetic trunk
• The paired sympathetic trunk is a ‘chain’ of
sympathetic ganglia that are placed on either
side of the vertebral column
• They run from the base of the skull down to
the coccyx
• There are 22 or 23 ganglia in each trunk:
3 (cervical region), 11 (thoracic region)
4 (lumber region) and 4 (sacral region)
11
 AUTONOMIC PLEXUSES
• These plexuses contain sympathetic fibres,
parasympathetic fibres and autonomic
ganglia
• They are found in the following locations
• Thorax: superficial and deep cardiac
plexuses , pulmonary plexuses
• Abdomen: coeliac plexus, others related to
superior and inferior mesenteric arteries
12
13
 AUTONOMIC PLEXUSES CONT’D
• Pelvis: superior hypogastric plexus, inferior
hypogastric plexuses
• Some plexuses are present in close relation
to some viscera: eg vesical plexus,
myenteric (Auerbach) plexus, submucosal
(Meissner) plexus

14
Parasympathetic Preganglionic neurons
• There are 2 groups
• The first group is located in the general
visceral efferent nuclei of the brainstem.
• Axons from the first group are called the
cranial parasympathetic outflow
• Cranial parasympathetic outflow pass
through CN III, VII, IX and X to reach
peripheral ganglia
15
 Parasympathetic Preganglionic cont’d
• The second group is located in the 2nd – 4th sacral
segments of the spinal cord
• Axons from the second group are called sacral
parasympathetic outflow
• Sacral parasympathetic ouftlow emerge from the
spinal cord and form the pelvic splanchnic nerves
which end in pelvic autonomic plexuses
• Therefore, parasympathetic system is often referred
to as cranio-sacral outflow as against sympathetic
which is called thoraco-lumber outflow.
16
 Parasympathetic Postganglionic Neurons
• Postganglionic neurons related to the CN III, CN VII,
and CN IX are located in the ciliary, submandibular,
pterygopalatine and otic ganglia
• Postganglionic neurons related to the vagus (CN X)
are located in thoracic and abdominal autonomic
plexuses, close to, or within, the viscera supplied
• Postganglionic neurons related to the sacral
parasympathetic outflow are located in pelvic
autonomic plexuses
• Generally, the ganglia of parasympathetic nerves are
located close to the viscera it innervates 17
 Afferent visceral nerves
• These are afferent nerve fibres that are related to
the autonomics nerves
• They carry general visceral afferent sensations from
viscera to the CNS
• Afferent nerves related to the cranial
parasympathetic outflow are carried by CN IX and
CN X
• Their cell bodies are located in the sensory ganglia
related with the particular cranial nerve

18
 Afferent visceral nerves cont’d
• Afferent visceral nerves related to the sacral
parasympathetic outflow follow the pelvic
splanchnic nerves
• Their cell bodies are located in the DRG
corresponding to S2 to S4 spinal segments
• Afferent visceral nerves related to sympathetic
nerves follow sympathetic nerves
• Their cell bodies are located in the DRG
corresponding to T1 to S2
19
20
21