Textbook Question
Describe the anatomical relationship of the white and gray rami communicantes to the spinal nerve, and indicate the kind of fibers found in each ramus type.
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Ch. 14 The Autonomic Nervous System
Hoehn, Haynes, Abbott12th EditionMarieb Human Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780138242732
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 The Human Body: An Orientation25
- Ch. 2 Chemistry Comes Alive24
- Ch. 3 Cells: The Living Units24
- Ch. 4 Tissue: The Living Fabric19
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System12
- Ch. 6 Bones and Skeletal Tissues19
- Ch. 7 The Skeleton14
- Ch. 8 Joints7
- Ch. 9 Muscles and Muscle Tissue26
- Ch. 10 The Muscular System25
- Ch. 11 Fundamentals of the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue23
- Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System25
- Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System and Reflex Activity30
- Ch. 14 The Autonomic Nervous System16
- Ch. 15 The Special Senses26
- Ch. 16 The Endocrine System26
- Ch. 17 Blood27
- Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System: The Heart25
- Ch. 19 The Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels27
- Ch. 20 The Lymphatic System and Lymphoid Organs and Tissues16
- Ch. 21 The Immune System: Innate and Adaptive Body Defenses27
- Ch. 22 The Respiratory System21
- Ch. 23 The Digestive System31
- Ch. 24 Nutrition, Metabolism, and Energy Balance26
- Ch. 25 The Urinary System26
- Ch. 26 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance24
- Ch. 27 The Reproductive System24
- Ch. 28 Pregnancy and Human Development25
- Ch. 29 Heredity11
Hoehn, Haynes, Abbott12th EditionMarieb Human Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780138242732Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 14, Problem 9
Indicate the results of sympathetic activation of the following structures: sweat glands, eye pupils, adrenal medullae, heart, bronchioles of the lungs, liver, blood vessels of vigorously working skeletal muscles, blood vessels of digestive viscera, salivary glands.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that sympathetic activation is part of the 'fight or flight' response, which prepares the body for rapid action by altering the function of various organs and tissues.
For sweat glands, recognize that sympathetic activation typically increases sweat production to help cool the body during stress or exertion.
For the eye pupils, note that sympathetic activation causes pupil dilation (mydriasis) to allow more light into the eye, improving vision in low-light or stressful situations.
For the adrenal medullae, understand that sympathetic stimulation triggers the release of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) into the bloodstream, amplifying the fight or flight response.
For the heart, bronchioles of the lungs, liver, blood vessels of skeletal muscles, blood vessels of digestive viscera, and salivary glands, analyze how sympathetic activation affects each: it increases heart rate and force of contraction, dilates bronchioles to improve airflow, promotes glycogen breakdown in the liver to increase blood glucose, dilates blood vessels in skeletal muscles to enhance blood flow, constricts blood vessels in digestive organs to reduce blood flow there, and modifies salivary gland secretion to produce a thicker, enzyme-rich saliva.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Sympathetic Nervous System Activation
The sympathetic nervous system is part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'fight or flight' response. Activation prepares the body for stressful situations by increasing heart rate, dilating pupils, and redirecting blood flow to essential organs. Understanding its general effects helps explain changes in various organs during sympathetic stimulation.
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Sympathetic Nervous System Example 1
Organ-Specific Responses to Sympathetic Stimulation
Different organs respond uniquely to sympathetic activation based on receptor types and functions. For example, sweat glands increase secretion, pupils dilate, and bronchioles expand. Recognizing these specific responses is crucial to accurately describe the physiological changes in each listed structure.
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Adrenergic Receptors and Their Role
Adrenergic receptors (alpha and beta) mediate the effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine released during sympathetic activation. Their distribution in tissues like the heart, blood vessels, and liver determines the nature of the response, such as vasodilation or vasoconstriction, increased heart contractility, or glycogen breakdown.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Describe the importance of the hypothalamus in controlling the autonomic nervous system.
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Textbook Question
Tiffany, a 21-year-old college student, is having trouble sleeping, cries frequently, and has recurrent thoughts of suicide. An antidepressant is prescribed. Like many such drugs, this antidepressant has anticholinergic side effects. What side effects might Tiffany experience in the first week of treatment?
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Textbook Question
Describe the meaning and importance of sympathetic tone and parasympathetic tone.
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Textbook Question
Where are the cell bodies of visceral sensory neurons?
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Textbook Question
Briefly explain why the following terms are sometimes used to refer to the autonomic nervous system: involuntary nervous system and emotional-visceral system.