1. The Peripheral and Autonomic Nervous System
Anatomy and Physiology Blake Austin College Licensed Vocational Nursing Program Semester 1
The Peripheral and Autonomic
Nervous System

2. Objectives Describe a mixed nerve
Describe the functions of the cranial and
spinal nerves
Relate the functions of the sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous system
Explain the simple reflex arc pattern
Describe common disorders of the peripheral
nervous system
Define the key words that relate to this chapter

4. Peripheral Nervous System
Nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord with sensory receptors, muscles, and glands
Two subcategories
Afferent peripheral system
Consists of afferent or sensory neurons that convey information
from receptors in the periphery of the body to the brain and
spinal cord
Efferent peripheral system
Consists of efferent or motor neurons that convey information
from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

6. Efferent Peripheral System
Somatic nervous system
voluntary movement of skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
(think “autonomic = automatic”)
Sympathetic
Stimulates or speeds up activity and thus requires an energy
expenditure and uses norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter
Fight-or-Flight System
Parasympathetic
Most active under ordinary, relaxed conditions
Rest-and-Repose System (energy-conserving system)

7. Efferent

8. Autonomic

9. Nerves Bundles of nerve fibers enclosed by connective tissue
Sensory or afferent nerves
Motor or efferent nerves
Mixed nerves

10. Cranial and Spinal Nerves
Part of the peripheral nervous system
12 pairs of cranial nerves
31 pairs of spinal nerves

11. Cranial Nerves I (Olfactory) II (Optic) III (Oculomotor)
IV (Trochlear)
V (Trigeminal)
VI (Abducens)
VII (Facial)
VIII (Vestibulocochlear)
IX (Glossopharyngeal)
X (Vagus)
XI (Spinal accessory)
XII (Hypoglossal)

12. Cranial Nerves

13. Spinal Nerve Plexus Cervical plexus Brachial plexus Lumbar plexus
Sacral plexus

14. Autonomic Nervous System
Nerves, ganglia, and plexuses which carry impulses to all smooth muscle, secretory glands, and heart muscle
Two divisions
Sympathetic system
Parasympathetic system
Both are strongly influenced by emotion

15. Reflex Act Simplest type of nervous response
Unconscious and involuntary
Reflexive acts
Stimulus
Change in the environment
Receptors
Sensory nerve that receives a stimulus and transmits it to the CNS
Response
Reaction to a stimulus
Reflex actions, or autonomic reflexes, involving
the skeletal muscles are controlled by the spinal
cord

16. Reflex Arc

17. Biofeedback Measurement of physiological responses
Yields information about the relationships between the mind and the body
Can learn to manipulate these responses through mental activity

18. Disorders Neuritis Peripheral neuropathy Sciatica Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia
Bell’s palsy
Shingles or herpes zoster
Carpal tunnel syndrome