7/28/2019 Paper 3 - The Autonomic System

1/4

7/28/2019 Paper 3 - The Autonomic System

2/4

The Second position requires residency in aganglion and your fiber extends to complete the

path by innervating a particular effector tissue

(postganglionic neuron). That is to stimulate a

nerve, muscle, or body part to action.

If anyone is interested in finding out moreabout the tasks assigned to each of these threecommittees, we have included a special section

in this edition of our newsletter.

Those of you interested in joining the ANS as a

preganglionic or postganglionic neuron cancontact the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS),

through specific links (neurons) which are located

just outside of the Central Nervous system

(CNS) at any time.

Have you ever heard the terms Fight or

Flight? How about Rest and Digest? Wellthis is where those decisions are made!

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for thequalified individual(s). Consider becoming part

of a truly unique system!

Nervous Newsletter Page 2

Sympathetic Team

Looking for information on what we do?

Youve come to the right place!

As part of the ANS we are charged withkeeping the body awake and alert. Here is

where we take to heart the function of

Fight or Flight!

There are many agencies that help people

prepare for emergencies, but we are the onesthat really get close and personal. It is here

that the reactions generated by sudden stressoccur. Things like making the heart beat

faster so that it sends blood more quickly to

the different body parts that might need it,causing the adrenal glands at the top of thekidneys to release adrenaline, even slows

down digestion.

Before you consider joining us, consider

everything it takes to be part of our group.Its not an easy job, but every time you come

into action ITS A THRILL!!!

First and Second Neurons on our team reallystart the process off. The First (preganglionic)

Neuron can be found in the thoracic andlumbar portions of the spinal cord to extend a

fiber out to a ganglion. Communication

between this and the Second (post-ganglionic)Neuron occurs at a location called a Synapse(a small gap separating the neurons that hold a

presynaptic end containing neurotransmitters, and othercell organelles; a postsynaptic end that contains receptor

sites for those neurotransmitters; and a synaptic cleft or

space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic ends).

It is the job of the First Neuron to get

information from the Spinal Cord and send it

to the Second Neuron. It in turn gets theinformation to the target point - either a

muscle or a gland.

You see the excitement; you feel the rush of

energy (by the way the preganglionic neuron usesacetylcholine as its neurotransmitter while the post-

ganglionic neuron takes advantage of norepinephrine

although when sweat is released it is acetylcholine that is

used by the post-ganglionic neuron), youre part of

all that happening!

7/28/2019 Paper 3 - The Autonomic System

3/4

Nervous Newsletter Page 3

Enteric TeamSpecialization, thats our game.

The complexity of it, the attention to detail,

the finite ins and outs, there is so much gongon in the gut that theres a special system to

control it. Thats US, the Enteric Team.

Parasympathetic Team

Listen to this! If you are more interested in

contributing to a calm and relaxed

environment, the Parasympathetic Team isfor you! Here is where we prepare the body

for rest not stress, calm not chaos.

Here is where we try to conserve energy, notuse it to focus our attention on productive

activities like digestion (by stimulatingsalivary glands and accelerating peristalsis

the contraction of muscles to force food on toan opening), slowing heart rate, constricting

pupils, dilating blood vessels, and even

assisting in the erection of genitals. It is ourjob to balance the work of the Sympathetic

Team and work together to as part of theANS in maintaining homeostasis.

Nothing says togetherness like TEAMWORK!

Work begins with the origination of impulses

generated in the cranial and sacral regions ofthe spinal cord unlike the Sympathetic Team

that originate inside the vertebral column

toward the middle of the spinal cord. Another

opposite but complimentary work structure isthat our groups of ganglion (plexus) are a lot

closer to the area of innerveration (thesympathetic forms immediately lateral and inferior to the

spinal nerve).

Our team is a little more selective in our use

of neurotransmitters. Acetylcholine is thepreferred chemical compound to act on

receptors of both the pre- and post-ganglionicneurons.

The chain of command (22 pairs) here startsin a neuron that has a long axon and

synapses with a second neuron near or in theorgan targeted. It is our job to bring a sense

of well-being to the body, to give it a sense of

peace and tranquility. How else is the bodyto sleep?

For many, life lives with the Sympathetic in

control, and that is unfortunate. Becauseparts of our team can be voluntarily

controlled, individuals can find stillness withinthem and allow the balance of excitement and

relaxation to be found and maintained. As a

warning to those who have pushed us in thecorner, it will take work and constant

vigilance to overcome our culture of rush nothush. Dont give up the rewards in the end

will only bring out the best in both of us.

There are times however in times of EXTREMEstress that we take over for our partners over

on the Sympathetic Team. Our actions cancause fainting to take the entire body system

away from the event causing fright;involuntarily defecation or vomiting; or even

in remote cases, slow down the heart enoughto cause death.

Hey, thats definitely not our intent, but in

extreme cases, extreme actions must be

taken. Overall, we like to see balance and welike to work together.

7/28/2019 Paper 3 - The Autonomic System

4/4

Upcoming Events

Rest and Relaxation

Evenings between 10pm and 6am

Daily starting at 7am, 12:30pm, and

6:30pm

Scare Fest

Get ready; this is going to be a

SURPRISE!

UUGH! What to do about stress

Come see what the ANS is doing aboutstress. Dont let it get to you, lick it!

Meetings Ongoing

Reminders Dont think about it too much

Use your energy wisely and in

the right places

Remember whos in charge!

Involuntary and Emotions

To be part of us is to be part of a truly unique

system. This is where the nitty-gritty ofdigestion is in process the actual

gastrointestinal mobility (how effectively food and

waste products are moved through the system).

Oftentimes, we are overlooked but withoutus, there would be no nutrition and energy to

keep the others going. We arent saying thatwe are the most important; were just saying

that were important too! We can beautonomous, but we like to work together

with the rest of the ANS, just to make surethings keep working right.

Our Team is sometimes called the Brain-Gutbecause of our autonomy in controlling

certain reflexes, complexity from the one

billion neurons gathered together in ganglia(myenteric (Auerbach's) and submucosal (Meissner's)

plexuses), AND the fact that we can

communicate with the CNS by way of theSympathetic and Parasympathetic Teams.

Our utilization of efferent, afferent, and

interneurons allow us to maintaincommunication without the input of the CNS

and our energy comes from not only

acetylcholine and norepinephrine and, butother chemical compounds like dopamine,

nitric oxide and serotonin.

Stress, now thats an ugly word. It happens

to the best of us and each of us has a way ofhandling it. Here on the Enteric Team we can

slow down and even stop digestion (althoughdiarrhea or constipation happens as a result).

We dont like to mention it, but you shouldknow there are some things that go wrong

here when stress enters the equation.Stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and

gastrointestinal reflux disease are a few.

Hey, what do you want, constant perfection?

Aint gonna happen here!