J.+Nervous+System

 **The NERVOUS SYSTEM**  "You're Getting On My Nerves!"

Did someone say "nerves"? The autonomic nervous system of our body has a specific job of regulating the activities of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands. There are two forms of neurons in the body: somatic and autonomic. We will go over parts of the autonomic nervous system on this page. Did you know that the we have an estimated 1,000 billion neurons in our entire body?

*Neurons are a nerve cell that contains a nucleaus, dendrites and and an axon *The neurons job is to conduct nerve impulses away from the cell body *The autonomic nervous system contains has two specific neurons, preganglionic and postganglionic neurons *The preganglionic neurons have cell bodies in the CNS, where the postganglionic neurons have cell bodies within the autonomic ganglia *In the pathway order, the preganglionic neuron is the first neuron and the postganglionic neuron is the second neuron that has an azon that extends from the autonomic ganglion to an effector organ *The effector organ is then the location where it synapses with its target tissue
 * I. Neurons **



*The ANS is divided into two divisions which include the sympathetic and parasympathetic system *The sympathetic division is also called the thoracolumbar division because its preganglionic fibers exit the spinal cord from the first thoracis (T1) to the second lumbar (L2) *Sympathetic axons form a compenent of spinal nerves they are found distributed to tnerveshe skeletal muscles and skin of the body *They innervate blood vessels and other involuntary effectors in the body *The parasympathetic division is also known at the craniosacral division because its fibers originate in the brain and in the second through fourth sacral levels of the spinal column *Most parasympathetic fiber DO NOT travel within spinal nerves, as the sympathetic do
 * II. Divison of the Autonomic Nervous System **

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*The sympathetic division activates the body to "fight or flight" through adrenergic effects *The parasympathetic division often exerts antagonistic actions through cholinergic effects that use (ACh) acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter *Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers are cholinergic *Most postganglionic sympathetic fibers are adrenergic and use norephineprine as a neurotransmitter *Also, symathetic fibers that innervate sweat glands and blood vessels in skeletal muscles are cholinergic *Cholinergic are detnoting nerve ends when stimulated release ACh *Adrenergic denotes the actions of ephinephrine, norephinephrine or other molecules with similar actions as a receptor or stimulation *Adrenergic effects include stimulation of the heart, bronchodilation, glycogenolysis in the liver and vasoconstriction in the viscera. *Cholinergic effects of parasympathetic nerves are promoted by the drug muscarine and inhibited by atropine *The stem of the medulla oblongata is the main area in control of the ANS
 * III. Functions of the Autonomic Nervous System **



**APPLICATION:** What is ACh? Well, Acetylcholine is abbreviated as ACh. I am familiar with ACh because I see it being used as a drug at the hospital pharmacy that I work in. According to Drugs.com, "Acetylcholine is a naturally occurring neurohormone which mediates nerve impulse transmission at all cholinergic sites involving somatic and autonomic nerves. After release from the nerve ending, acetylcholine is rapidly inactivated by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase by hydrolysis to acetic acid and choline." Another drug that I am familiar with is atropine that ties into this chapter. Atropine are typically stocked on crashed carts all over the hospital. Crash carts are used in emergency situations and are locked until needed. They are created so health care providers can act quickly in an emergency without having to go through a long and time consuming effort to obtain drugs needed immediately. Atropine can decrease spasms in the body in the GI tract, the biliary tract and bladder. It also helps maintain the proper heart function during surgery and during heart emergencies. Atropine can also be used to help with the symptoms from Parkinson's disease. So, we see natural hormones and neurotransmitters created in drug forms to aid in health therapy. To me, that is AMAZING!



**Case Study** **The Soccer Mom: A Case Study on the Nervous System** Part One 1. It seems Phyllis is having a hard time focusing, memorization and even having fainting spells. It sounds like she is very sensitive also. 2. Her dehydration may be linked to her memorization failing her, perhaps she is forgetting to take proper care of herself and what her body needs. 3. Based on her problems I would start to believe there is more because it seems like a lot of brain centered problems. 4. This reminds me of possibly of Multiple Sclerosis which basically your own body destroys your own immune system but, it could be several neurological issues. Part Two 1. Some new symptoms reveled is her fingers are feeling numb and she can't type at work. Also, she feels very tired and her coordination is off. 2. Her being tired may be related to depression. 3. Serotonin, norephinephrine and dopamine are the neurotransmitters related to depression. 4. The conditions that could of put her grandfather in a wheelchair are Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's come to my mind. 5. Yes, they all kind of fit into some of their symptoms. 6. Yes she could of inherited her symptoms. 7. I think it would be smart to run a MRI and perhaps a CT scan. <span style="color: #dd3c3c; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;">Part Three <span style="color: #dd3c3c; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;">1. Schwann cells are myelin. 2. Myelin cells are responsible for the fast neurological reactions we have. 3. Action potentials are not created in the myelinated axons. 4. The voltage gated sodium ions are located along the nodes of Ranvier. 5. The myelin is destroyed in people who have Multiple Sclerosis. 6. There is an elevated level of basic protein because of acute relapse. 7. The conduction is not able to complete properly and is disrupted and causes problems in reactions. 8. It slows down responses and its like driving off the lines on the road versus driving in a straight consistent line. In an example of the finger movement this can cause chopped up responses to movement and can cause reactions to not be fulfilled properly. <span style="color: #dd3c3c; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;">Part Four <span style="color: #dd3c3c; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;">1. My understanding is a there will be some blockage of the sodium channels and it will continue to work and be restored during remission. <span style="color: #dd3c3c; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;">2. Interferon beta will aid in interfering with MS's course, corticosteroids will help reduce the inflammation caused by MS and physical therapy can help control symptoms and help with balance, pain, lack of coordination and weakness to name a few.

<span style="color: #ff3a00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">[] <span style="color: #ff3a00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">[] <span style="color: #ff3a00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">[] <span style="color: #ff3a00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;"> http://www.drugs.com/drp/acetylcholine-chloride.html <span style="color: #ff3a00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;"> http://www.centuranews.org/repository/newsletters/Photos/Penrose/2010/June%202010/June%2021/Crash%20carts%20400.jpg <span style="color: #ff3a00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;"> http://www.colorado.edu/intphys/Class/IPHY3730/image/figure19m.jpg
 * <span style="color: #ff3a00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Sources: **