1. Section D: Structure of the Nervous System & Autonomic Nervous System
12 October 2008
Section D: Structure of the Nervous System &
Autonomic Nervous System
Quiz on Wednesday, Oct 14 covering:
Action Potential Conduction Velocity Lab
Synapses (Chapter 6 C)
Autonomic Nervous System (in Chapter 6 D)

2. Dorsal roots = sensory (afferent)
Ventral roots = motor (efferent, both somatic and autonomic)
Gray matter regions of brain and spinal cord
“Pinched nerves” and bulging discs
Ascending and descending axonal tracts in white matter not anatomically delineated.

3. Explanation for Cervical and lumbar enlargements of spinal cord.
Spinal nerves named for vertebral level.
Using patient’s localization of symptoms with knowledge of dermatomes to determine which spinal nerve is affected by damage.
Epidural injections into region of cauda equina of Lidocaine-like agents to block action potentials in sensory and motor axons without risk of damage to spinal cord.

4. Figure 6.43
Locations of neuronal cell bodies, ganglia, pharmacology of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) at skeletal muscle (nAChR)
Diagram of NMJ compared to synaptic varicosities characteristic of autonomic postganglionic axons.
Locations and proximities of target cells and distributions of receptors on target cells.
Somatic = excitatory only at NMJ (ex. Reduced muscle tone)
Autonomic= exitatory or inhibitory depending on NTs and their receptors.

5. Figure 6.44 Parasympathetic (cranio-sacral) division)
Dual innervation with antogonistic effects
Sympathetic (thoraco-lumbar) division

6. Figure 6.46
Adrenal medulla is modified sympathetic ganglion that secretes mainly EPI

7. Figure 6.45
Explanation of why activation of the sympathetic division has widespread effects.

8. Table 6.11