1. Fight or Flight

2. Fight or Flight

3. Fight or Flight Steven Hawking FRS Harold Burn FRS Cosmologist
Pharmacologist
Researched effects of nicotine
and neurotransmitters – important
part of the autonous nervous system
Steven Hawking FRS
Cosmologist
Researched black holes and
origins of the universe
Suffered from motor neuron
disease, but his autonomous
nervous system was not affected

4. Fight or Flight

5. Fight or Flight
The Autonomous Nervous System is the “Brain” that controls
the internal organs, including the digestive system.
Regulated by the Hypothalmus, in the brain
Sympathetic System is the “Fight or Flight” component
Parasympathetic System is the “Rest and Digest” component
Enteric System is embedded in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract
and is the true “Second Brain”
Communication is by several neuro-transmitters

6. Fight or Flight

7. Fight or Flight Enteric Nervous System Contained in the gut wall
Receives signals from the brain and spinal chord
Can act independently from the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems
Derived from neural crest cells (gut wall)
Connected to the vagus nerve, but will still work if this severed

8. Fight or Flight
Enteric Nervous System

9. Fight or Flight

10. Fight or Flight

11. Fight or Flight

12. Fight or Flight
Functions of the autonomic nervous system

13. Fight or Flight Sympathetic Nervous System
Mostly contained in the spine
Acts quickly
Releases acetylcholin to the adrenal glands
Initially promotes the release of noradrenalin
Adrenalin is released after the prolonged presence of noradrenalin
Together these promote the “Fight or Flight” symptoms

14. Fight or Flight Parasympathetic Nervous System
Mostly contained in the brain
Acts gradually
Has all the opposite effects of sympathetic system
Releases acetylcholin to send messages, but not to the adrenal glands
Includes the vagus nerve, which is the principal feedback from the gut
to the brain

15. Fight or Flight Vagus Nerve
The longest nerve in the Autonomous Nervous System
Principally associated with the Parasympathetic System
Connected to the Sympathetic System through chemoreceptors

16. Fight or Flight
Activity of insulin is compromised for people suffering obesity or hypertension

17. Fight or Flight Neurotransmitters (amongst others)
Adrenaline (Epinephrine)– agent of the sympathetic autonomous
nervous system
Changes sugars (glycogen) in the system into glucose
Increases blood flow to muscles
Increases heart output and blood sugar
Noradrenaline (Norepinephrine) – agent of the sympathetic
autonomous nervous system
Increases glucose release from stores
Increases blood flow to skeletal muscles
Decreases blood flow to the gut

18. Fight or Flight Neurotransmitters (amongst others)
Seratonin – agent of parasympathetic autonomous nervous system
Present in the lumen, surrounding the gut
Irritants in the food cause excess of serotonin and diarrhea
Great excess of serotonin can cause vomiting
Histamine – agent of immune response
Dilates blood vessels in the gut and elsewhere (anaphylaxis)
Increases permeability of infected tissued to allow access for white cells
and some proteins
Agent of inflammatory response
Involved in 23 physiological functions

19. Fight or Flight Neurotransmitters (amongst others)
Dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) – Many uses in the body
Reduces gut motility and protects intestinalmucosa
Reduces insulin in the pancreas
Inhibits noradrenaline release and acts as
a vascular dilator
Acetylcholine – Initial agent of transmission
General use throughout the nervous system
Contributes to the addictive qualities of nicotine

20. Fight or Flight Nervous Indigestion
The digestive system works at a certain pace
Anxiety generates responses in the Autonomic Nervous System that reduces the rate of flow of material through the digestive system
The mismatch between rate of flow and the processes of the digestive system may reduce the efficiency of the digestive process
Acidity and alkalinity levels at various stages in the digestive process may deviate from normal and cause digestive issues and nausea

21. Fight or Flight Effects of Caffeine
Promotes sympathetic nerve flow in the ANS
Inhibits parasympathetic activity
Effects depend on body position – parasympathetic activity increases
when lying down – may depend on age
Effects also depend on dependency

22. Fight or Flight
Function of the autonomic nervous system