II. Definitions
- Autonomic Nervous System
- System of internal regulation for times of both rest (parasympathetic) and stress (sympathetic)
- Coordinates organ function (e.g. Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, sweating and crying, urination and stooling)
- Hypothalamus regulates the Autonomic System via both direct Neuron connections, as well as hormonal release
III. Anatomy: General
- Autonomic System operates in parallel to the somatic system (motor, sensory)
- Central control (especially Hypothalamus and solitary nucleus) based on peripheral visceral afferent signals
- Autonomic Pathways are primarily two Neuron (preganglionic, postganglionic)
- Regulates involuntary actions
- Smooth Muscle and cardiac Muscle
- Cardiopulmonary system
- Gastrointestinal System
- Glands (e.g. lacrimal, Salivary, sweat)
- Smooth Muscle and cardiac Muscle
IV. Anatomy: Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Systems
- Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Systems typically counter one another with opposing actions
- Some activities (e.g. sexual arousal) involve both systems (Erection is parasympathetic, ejaculation sympathetic)
-
Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Signals originate in the Sacral spinal cord (S2 to S4) and Brain Stem nucleii (CN 3, CN 7, CN 9, CN 10)
- Parasympathetic Ganglions are close to the organs and glands they innervate
- Energy conserving (anabolic) system activated in rest and relaxation situations ("housekeeping" functions)
- Decreases Heart Rate, Blood Pressure and pupil size (Miosis)
- Stimulates gastrointestinal activity, Salivary secretion and urinary contraction
- Images
- Signals originate in the Sacral spinal cord (S2 to S4) and Brain Stem nucleii (CN 3, CN 7, CN 9, CN 10)
-
Sympathetic Nervous System
- Signals originate in the spinal cord intermediolateral column (T1 to L2)
- Energy expending (catabolic) system, activated in stressful situations (e.g. emergency fight or flight)
- Increases Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, Respiratory Rate and pupil size
- Shunts Blood Flow to critical organs (cardiac and skeletal Muscle) from Gastrointestinal Tract
- Images
V. Anatomy: Preganglionic and Postganglionic Fibers
- Preganglionic Neuron (CNS to autonomic Ganglion)
- Acetylcholine mediated (Cholinergic) in both sympathetic and Parasympathetic Systems
- Postganglionic Neuron (autonomic Ganglion to target organ)
- Parasympathetic System: Acetylcholine mediated (Cholinergic) as with preganglionic fibers
- Sympathetic System: Norepinephrine mediated (with exceptions, such as Acetylcholine for sweating)
- Images
VI. Pathophysiology
VII. References
- Goldberg (2014) Clinical Neuroanatomy, Medmaster, p. 54-60
- Netter (1997) Atlas Human Anatomy, ICON Learning, p. 152-4
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| Definition (NCI) | Nerve fibers which project from cell bodies of autonomic ganglia to synapses on target organs. (MeSH) |
| Definition (MSH) | Nerve fibers which project from cell bodies of AUTONOMIC GANGLIA to SYNAPSES on target organs. |
| Definition (CSP) | nerve fibers which project from cell bodies of autonomic ganglia to synapses on target organs. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D001338 |
| English | Autonomic Fiber, Postganglionic, Autonomic Fibers, Postganglionic, Fiber, Postganglionic Autonomic, Fibers, Postganglionic Autonomic, postganglionic fiber, Postganglionic Autonomic Fibers, Postganglionic Autonomic Fiber |
| French | Fibres nerveuses autonomes postganglionnaires, Fibres nerveuses postganglionnaires autonomes, Fibre neuro-végétative post-ganglionnaire, Fibre neurovégétative postganglionnaire, Fibres neuro-végétatives post-ganglionnaires, Fibres neurovégétatives post-ganglionnaires, Fibres neurovégétatives postganglionnaires, Neurofibres autonomes post-ganglionnaires, Neurofibres autonomes postganglionnaires |
| Swedish | Autonoma postganglionära fibrer |
| Czech | autonomní vlákna postgangliová |
| Spanish | Fibras Autónomas Postganglionares |
| Finnish | Postganglionaariset autonomiset hermosyyt |
| Russian | NERVNOI SISTEMY VEGETATIVNOI POSTGANGLIONARNYE VOLOKNA, НЕРВНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ ВЕГЕТАТИВНОЙ ПОСТГАНГЛИОНАРНЫЕ ВОЛОКНА |
| Latvian | Veģetatīvās nervu sistēmas šķiedras, postganglionārās |
| Polish | Włókna zazwojowe |
| Norwegian | Autonome postganglionære fibre |
| German | Vegetative Fasern, postganglionäre |
| Italian | Fibre postgangliari del sistema autonomo |
| Dutch | Postganglionaire autonome zenuwvezels, Zenuwvezel, autonome, postganglionaire |
| Portuguese | Fibras Autônomas Pós-Ganglionares |
Ontology: Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic (C0004385)
| Definition (NCI) | Nerve fibers which project from the central nervous system to autonomic ganglia. In the sympathetic division most preganglionic fibers originate with neurons in the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord, exit via ventral roots from upper thoracic through lower lumbar segments, and project to the paravertebral ganglia; there they either terminate in synapses or continue through the splanchnic nerves to the prevertebral ganglia. In the parasympathetic division the fibers originate in neurons of the brain stem and sacral spinal cord. In both divisions the principal transmitter is acetylcholine but peptide cotransmitters may also be released. (MeSH) |
| Definition (MSH) | NERVE FIBERS which project from the central nervous system to AUTONOMIC GANGLIA. In the sympathetic division most preganglionic fibers originate with neurons in the intermediolateral column of the SPINAL CORD, exit via ventral roots from upper thoracic through lower lumbar segments, and project to the paravertebral ganglia; there they either terminate in SYNAPSES or continue through the SPLANCHNIC NERVES to the prevertebral ganglia. In the parasympathetic division the fibers originate in neurons of the BRAIN STEM and sacral spinal cord. In both divisions the principal transmitter is ACETYLCHOLINE but peptide cotransmitters may also be released. |
| Definition (CSP) | nerve fibers which project from the central nervous system to autonomic ganglia. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D001339 |
| English | Autonomic Fiber, Preganglionic, Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic, Fiber, Preganglionic Autonomic, Fibers, Preganglionic Autonomic, preganglionic fiber, Preganglionic Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic Autonomic Fiber |
| French | Fibres nerveuses autonomes préganglionnaires, Fibres nerveuses autonomes pré-ganglionnaires, Fibre neuro-végétative pré-ganglionnaire, Fibres neurovégétatives pré-ganglionnaires, Fibres neurovégétatives préganglionnaires, Neurofibres autonomes pré-ganglionnaires, Neurofibres autonomes préganglionnaires |
| Swedish | Autonoma preganglionära nerver |
| Czech | autonomní vlákna pregangliová |
| Finnish | Preganglionaariset autonomiset hermosyyt |
| Russian | B-VOLOKNA, NERVNOI SISTEMY VEGETATIVNOI VOLOKNA PREGANGLIONARNYE, B-ВОЛОКНА, НЕРВНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ ВЕГЕТАТИВНОЙ ВОЛОКНА ПРЕГАНГЛИОНАРНЫЕ |
| Latvian | Veģetatīvās nervu sistēmas šķiedras, preganglionārās |
| Polish | Włókna przedzwojowe |
| Norwegian | Autonome preganglionære nerver |
| German | Vegetative Fasern, präganglionäre |
| Italian | Fibre pregangliari del sistema autonomo |
| Dutch | Preganglionaire autonome zenuwvezels, Zenuwvezel, autonome, preganglionaire |
| Portuguese | Fibras Autônomas Pré-Ganglionares |
| Spanish | Fibras Autónomas Preganglionares |
Ontology: Autonomic nervous system (C0004388)
| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | The part of the nervous system that controls muscles of internal organs (such as the heart, blood vessels, lungs, stomach, and intestines) and glands (such as salivary glands and sweat glands). One part of the autonomic nervous system helps the body rest, relax, and digest food and another part helps a person fight or take flight in an emergency. |
| Definition (NCI) | The part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands. |
| Definition (MSH) | The ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; and SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM taken together. Generally speaking, the autonomic nervous system regulates the internal environment during both peaceful activity and physical or emotional stress. Autonomic activity is controlled and integrated by the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, especially the HYPOTHALAMUS and the SOLITARY NUCLEUS, which receive information relayed from VISCERAL AFFERENTS. |
| Definition (CSP) | those neurons which regulate the contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle and the secretion of glands, by way of the general visceral efferent component of cranial and spinal nerves; contains two divisions, parasympathetic and sympathetic which provide double innervation to most organs by way of a two-neuron chain, the first neuron has its cell of origin in the brain or spinal cord and the second in an autonomic ganglion. |
| Concepts | Body System (T022) |
| MSH | D001341 |
| SnomedCT | 72167002 |
| English | Autonomic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous Systems, Nervous Systems, Autonomic, System, Autonomic Nervous, Systems, Autonomic Nervous, Nervous System, Autonomic, Autonomic, Visceral nervous system, autonomic nervous system (ANS), visceral nervous system, autonomic nervous system, vegetative nervous system, Systema nervosum autonomicum, Systema nervosum (pars autonomica), ANS, involuntary nervous system, System, Vegetative Nervous, Visceral Nervous Systems, Nervous Systems, Visceral, Vegetative Nervous System, Nervous Systems, Vegetative, System, Visceral Nervous, Visceral Nervous System, Systems, Visceral Nervous, Nervous System, Vegetative, Systems, Vegetative Nervous, Vegetative Nervous Systems, Nervous System, Visceral, Autonomic nervous system structure (body structure), Autonomic nervous system structure, Autonomic nervous system, Autonomic nervous system, NOS |
| French | SNV (Système Nerveux Végétatif), SNA (Système Nerveux Autonome), Système nerveux autonome, Système nerveux végétatif |
| Swedish | Autonoma nervsystemet |
| Czech | autonomní nervový systém, vegetativní nervový systém |
| Finnish | Autonominen hermosto |
| Russian | NERVNAIA SISTEMA VEGETATIVNAIA, НЕРВНАЯ СИСТЕМА ВЕГЕТАТИВНАЯ |
| Croatian | AUTONOMNI ŽIVČANI SUSTAV |
| Latvian | Veģetatīvā nervu sistēma, Nervu sistēma, veģetatīvā |
| Polish | Układ nerwowy autonomiczny, Układ nerwowy wegetatywny |
| Norwegian | Nervesystem, autonome, Autonome nervsystem, Vegetative nervesystem |
| Spanish | estructura del sistema nervioso autónomo (estructura corporal), estructura del sistema nervioso autónomo, sistema nervioso autónomo, Sistema Nervioso Autónomo |
| German | Autonomes Nervensystem, Vegetatives Nervensystem |
| Italian | Sistema nervoso autonomo |
| Dutch | Autonoom zenuwstelsel, Vegetatief zenuwstelsel, Zenuwstelsel, autonoom |
| Portuguese | Sistema Nervoso Autônomo |
Ontology: Autonomic Pathways (C0206251)
| Definition (MSH) | Nerves and plexuses of the autonomic nervous system. The central nervous system structures which regulate the autonomic nervous system are not included. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D017776 |
| English | Autonomic Pathways, Autonomic Pathway, Pathway, Autonomic, Pathways, Autonomic |
| French | Voies neurovégétatives, Voie nerveuse autonome, Voies nerveuses autonomes |
| Swedish | Autonoma nervbanor |
| Czech | autonomní nervové dráhy |
| Finnish | Autonomiset radat |
| Russian | VEGETATIVNOI NERVNOI SISTEMY PROVODIASHCHIE PUTI, VEGETATIVNYKH NERVNYKH VOLOKON PUCHKI, ВЕГЕТАТИВНОЙ НЕРВНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ ПРОВОДЯЩИЕ ПУТИ, ВЕГЕТАТИВНЫХ НЕРВНЫХ ВОЛОКОН ПУЧКИ |
| Croatian | SIMPATIČKI ŽIVCI |
| Latvian | Not Translated[Autonomic Pathways] |
| Polish | Drogi autonomiczne, Szlaki autonomiczne |
| Norwegian | Autonome nervebaner |
| German | Vegetative Leitungsbahnen |
| Italian | Vie del sistema nervoso autonomo |
| Dutch | Autonome baansystemen, Autonome banen, Autonome zenuwbanen, Baan, autonome |
| Portuguese | Vias Autônomas |
| Spanish | Vías Autónomas |
