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Ch. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order Functions
Martini - Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology 12th Edition
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew12th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy and PhysiologyISBN: 9780137854011Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMartini, Nath, Bartholomew 12th EditionCh. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order FunctionsProblem 28
Chapter 16, Problem 28

Nicotine stimulates cholinergic receptors of the ANS. Based on this information, how would cigarette smoking affect the cardiovascular system?

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Step 1: Understand that nicotine acts as an agonist at cholinergic receptors, specifically nicotinic receptors, which are part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). These receptors are found in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia.
Step 2: Recognize that stimulation of nicotinic receptors in the sympathetic ganglia leads to increased sympathetic nervous system activity, which generally results in effects such as increased heart rate and vasoconstriction.
Step 3: Consider that increased sympathetic activity causes the release of norepinephrine, which binds to adrenergic receptors on the heart and blood vessels, leading to increased cardiac output and elevated blood pressure.
Step 4: Analyze how these cardiovascular changes—such as increased heart rate (tachycardia) and vasoconstriction—can increase the workload on the heart and raise systemic vascular resistance.
Step 5: Summarize that cigarette smoking, through nicotine's stimulation of cholinergic receptors in the ANS, primarily enhances sympathetic activity, thereby increasing heart rate and blood pressure, which can contribute to cardiovascular stress.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Cholinergic Receptors in the Autonomic Nervous System

Cholinergic receptors respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and are found in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS. Nicotine acts as an agonist, stimulating these receptors, which can alter autonomic regulation of various organs, including the heart and blood vessels.
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Effects of Nicotine on the Cardiovascular System

Nicotine stimulates the release of catecholamines like adrenaline, leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and vasoconstriction. These changes strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and other heart-related conditions.
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Autonomic Nervous System Regulation of Cardiovascular Function

The ANS controls heart rate, contractility, and vascular tone through sympathetic and parasympathetic inputs. Stimulation of cholinergic receptors by nicotine disrupts this balance, often enhancing sympathetic activity, which results in cardiovascular effects such as elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

A possible side effect of a drug used to open the airways of someone suffering from an asthma attack is

(a) Decreased activity of the digestive system

(b) Diarrhea

(c) Profuse urination

(d) Increased blood pressure

(e) Decreased heart rate

Textbook Question

Phil is stung on his cheek by a wasp. Because Phil is allergic to wasp venom, his throat begins to swell and his respiratory passages constrict. Would acetylcholine or epinephrine be more helpful in relieving his condition? Why?

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Textbook Question

The condition known as shock is characterized in part by a decreased return of venous blood to the heart. How could an upsetting situation, such as the sight of a tragic accident or very bad news, produce some temporary symptoms of shock?

Textbook Question

While studying the activity of smooth muscle in blood vessels, Shelly discovers that, when applied to a muscle plasma membrane, a molecule chemically similar to a neurotransmitter triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ions. Which neurotransmitter is the molecule mimicking, and to which receptors is it binding?

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Textbook Question

You are home alone at night when you hear what sounds like breaking glass. What physiological effects would this experience probably produce, and what would be their cause?

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Textbook Question

Why is autonomic tone a significant part of ANS function?

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