Involuntary nervous system or visceral motor nervous system.

Functions in coordination with the somatic and sensory system and higher brain functions.

Both systems are fully integrated.

Dual system with the parasympathetic and sympathetic system innervating the same organs but causing opposite effects.

Sympathetic:  Fight or Flight (tiger in the room)

Parasympathetic: Maintenance ("vegging out" on the Lazy Boy)

A). Effectors

Somatic:

Skeletal muscle (only)

Autonomic:

Smooth muscle

Cardiac muscle

Glands

B). Efferent Pathways

Somatic: cell body in CNS axon attaches to skeletal muscle.

Conduction of impulses very fast

Autonomic: 2 neuron chain

Cell body of first neuron in the CNS

2^nd neuron outside CNS and attached to effector organ.

Conduction of impulses slower.

C). Neurotransmitter Effects

A). Functional Role

Parasympathetic: Maintenance functions

Conserves & stores energy

Sympathetic: Prepares the body for emergencies

Intense muscular activity

Fight or Flight

B). Origin sites

C). Length of ganglionic fibers

D). Neurotransmitters

A). Parasympathetic fibers do not run in spinal nerves. (Vagus nerve is a cranial nerve, so are many of the parasympathetic nerves)

B). Nerves arise from the cranial, (brainstem) and the sacral region.

C). Nerves involved

1). Oculomotor Nerves: constrict pupils focus on objects

2). Facial Nerves: activates glands

lacrimal glands & salivary glands

(Think of the oppisite when you are exicited your mouth dries up because the last thing you need is to process food)

3). Glossopharyngeal Nerves: salivary glands

4). Vagus Nerves:

Serves most of the visceral organs

Cardiac plexus: Slows the heart rate

Pulmonary plexus

Esophageal plexus: liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine, kidneys, pancreas, large intestine. (This is independent of the spinal cord)

5). Sacral Nerves: pelvic organs, bladder, genitals & large intestine.

Innervates visceral organs, adrenal glands, sweat glands and hair raising glands and vascular smooth muscle.

When the tiger is in the room you do not want blood and energy going tot he visceral organs to digest your dinner you want blood going to the muscles (vascular dilation) and when you are running you are producing heat so you need to sweat)