PHYSL212 Study Guide - Enteric Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System, Sympathetic Nervous System

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Physiology
• Course: PHYSL212
• Professor: Saswati Das

Document Summary

Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates body activities that are unconscious. Controls visceral responses that prepare body for rapid, intense activity, often referred to as fight or flight reaction. Responses: increase in heart rate, central artery constriction, peripheral vascular dilation, liver glycogen metabolism, and rapid breathing: parasympathetic nervous system. Almost all visceral targets receive both sympathetic and parasympathetic neuronal inputs: enteric nervous system. Enteric neurons form plexuses that surround and extend along the length of the gut, including stomach, small and large intestines. Coordinate contraction of smooth muscle to cause peristaltic constriction movement of the gut. Most of the enteric nervous system functions independently of higher cns control. Parasympathetic: craniosacral (cranial (3, 7, 9, 10) and sacral (s2-s4)) (cid:0) all preganglionic neurons in the brain stem or sacral levels of the spinal cord (cid:0) only innervates internal organs (not skin) Sympathetic: thoracolumbar (thoracic and lumbar) t1-l2 (cid:0) lead to every part of the body.