TERMS TO LEARN
| Download (.pdf) | Print
| Acetylcholinesterase | Enzyme responsible for the degradation of Ach. |
| Adrenergic Neuronal Blockers | Medications that prevent NE from exiting the nerve terminal. |
| Anisocoria | Unequal pupils. |
| Intrinsic Sympathomimetic Activity (ISA) | Drugs with paradoxical partial β-agonist properties; clinical significance unknown. |
| Lipid Solubility | Accounts for the CNS side effects of a drug. |
| Malignant Hypertension | Severely elevated blood pressure associated with CNS, renal, or cardiac symptoms. |
| Membrane Stabilizing Activity (MSA) | Imparts a local anesthetic quality to β-blockers; may contribute to antiarrhythmic property. |
| Miosis | Pupillary constriction. |
| Myasthenia Gravis | Autoimmune disease characterized by increasing muscle weakness with use due to the presence of antibodies to the Ach receptor at the neuromuscular junction. |
| Mydriasis | Pupillary dilation. |
| Nonselective α-Adrenergic Blockers | Medications that block α1- and α2-adrenergic sites. |
| Nonselective β-Blockers | Medications that block β1- and β2-adrenergic sites. |
| Pheochromocytoma | Tumor of the adrenal gland that secretes catecholamines. |
| Plasma Binding | Accounts for the drug interactions. |
| Postural (orthostatic) Hypotension | A 20 mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure or 10 mm Hg drop in diastolic blood pressure within 3 minutes of standing due to a defect in the blood pressure control system. |
| Raynaud's Disease | Vascular disorder characterized by peripheral vasoconstriction. |
| Selective α-Adrenergic Blockers | Medications that block α1-adrenergic sites only. |
| Selective β-Adrenergic Blockers | Medications that block β1-adrenergic sites only. |
| Sjögren's Syndrome | Syndrome of dry mouth and dry eyes due to lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary and lacrimal glands; often observed in patients with autoimmune disorders including RA and SLE. |
| Tourette's Syndrome | Syndrome characterized by motor and verbal tics. |
| Xerostomia | Dry mouth. |
ANS COMPONENTS
| Download (.pdf) | Print
| Path of preganglionic cell | CN III, VII, IX, X, and S2–S4 | TI–L2 |
| Preganglionic fiber length | Long | Short |
| Preganglionic myelination | Myelinated | Myelinated |
| Pre- to postganglionic ratio | One to one (except vagus nerve) | One to many |
| Preganglionic cell NT | Ach | Ach |
| Postganglionic cell location | On or near organ | Sympathetic chain next to spinal cord |
| Postganglionic fiber length | Short | Long |
| Postganglionic myelination | Unmyelinated | Unmyelinated |
| Postganglionic cell NT | Ach | NE (except adrenal medulla—EPI; piloerector muscles and sweat glands—Ach) |
OVERVIEW OF ANS AND ACTIONS OF SOME DRUGS
EFFECTS OF ANS ON ORGAN SYSTEMS
| Download (.pdf) | Print
| Mechanism | Effect | Mechanism | Effect | |
| Pupil of the eye |
|
|
What is the pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system?
Autonomic pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the control of the internal organs including the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and vasculature.
What are the 4 different drug classes of autonomic nervous drugs?
Within autonomic pharmacology, there are four specific categories of drugs based on how they affect the ANS:.
Cholinomimetics/cholinesterase antagonists..
Anticholinergics..
Adrenoreceptor agonists/sympathomimetics..
Adrenoreceptor antagonists..
What are the 3 roles of the ANS?
Regulating blood pressure. Regulating heart rate. Secretion of bodily fluids such as saliva, sweat, and urine. Breathing.
What is the autonomic nervous system answer?
The autonomic nervous system is a component of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary physiologic processes including heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion, and sexual arousal. It contains three anatomically distinct divisions: sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric.