AUTONOMIC PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2 WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% VERIFIED 2026-2027!!
What is the function of the Central Nervous System? What does it contain?
Processes information, sends commands down to body
- output from CNS control autonomic control
- can be excitatory or inhibitory
Contains:
- brain
- brainstem
- spinal cord
What are the characteristics of the Peripheral Nervous System?
- contains motor and sensory neurons
Path IN → sensory neurons signal to brain (afferent)
Path OUT → motor neurons signal body (efferent)
What are the divisions of the motor neurons in the PNS?
- somatic - voluntary mvmt (skeletal muscle) → uses ach NT at nicotinic (Nm)
receptors
- autonomic - involuntary mvmt (controls homeostasis)
What are divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?
- sympathetic
- parasympathetic
- enteric (GI)
What is the primary goal of the autonomic nervous system?
To maintain homeostasis by regulating involuntary functions.
Which body functions are regulated by the autonomic nervous system?
Modulates involuntary mechanisms
- Breathing, heart rate, GI motility, secretions, sweating, pupillary response, and
temperature.
What is a ganglion?
A cluster of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS.
What is the role of the soma?
Integrates incoming signals
What is the role of the dendrites?
Receive signals from other neurons and carry info to the soma
What does an action potential travel down? Where is it going to? Where does it
end?
,Travels down presynaptic cell axon from cell body
- rapid electrical wave caused by ion movement
- going to dendrites
- ends at synapse
In an axon terminal, what does the action potential do?
- triggers Ca2+ to enter
- Ca2+ triggers vesicles to release these neurotransmitters by exocytosis across
the presynaptic membrane to post synaptic membrane
What is the function of the postsynaptic membrane?
Contains receptors that generate a response when neurotransmitter binds.
- determines downstream organ effects
Where do sympathetic nerves originate anatomically?
Thoracolumbar spinal cord (T1-L2).
Where are sympathetic preganglionic neuron cell bodies located?
Intermediolateral horn of the spinal cord.
What pathway do sympathetic preganglionic fibers take to reach ganglia?
- Exit via anterior roots of intermediolateral horns
- pass via white rami into 1 of 22 pairs of ganglia composing the paravertebral
sympathetic chain.
What is the function of sympathetic postganglionic neurons? (Exit and
destination)
Exit from paravertebral ganglia and travel to various peripheral target organs.
What is the NT at the preganglionic neuron vs postganglionic neuron for SNS?
What are their receptors?
Preganglion NT: ach at nicotinic receptor
Postganglion NT: NE at alpha/beta adrenergic receptors
Aside from target organs, what else can sympathetic postganglionic fibers
influence?
- vascular smooth muscle tone
- activity of piloerector muscles and sweat glands
**includes involuntary control
How are sweat glands different than normal SNS stimulation?
Sweat glands postganglionic = ach and muscarinic receptors (like PNS)
Sweat sweats with ach. Hair stands with NE (piloerector muscles = a1).
SNS Preganglionic vs Postganglionic tracts
Short preganglionic (ach at nicotinic) - cholinergic receptor
Long postganglionic (NE at alpha/beta) - adrenergic receptor
Narrow SNS Depiction
, Green = sensory back to spinal cord via dorsal root
red = pregnaglionic leaving spinal cord to sympathetic chain
black = post ganglionic going to adrenergic receptor
What is another name for PNS? What cranial nerves and other areas carry
parasympathetic fibers?
Craniosacral system
CN III, V, VII, IX, and X and S1-S4 sacral portions of spinal cord
**nerves leave the CNS through these cns and cord
Cranial Nerve Name Refresher
(CN III, V, VII, IX, and X)
CN III - Oculomotor (pupil constriction/miosis)
CN V - Trigeminal, specifically third branch
CN VII - Facial (lacrimation and salivation)
CN IX - Glossopharyngeal (parotid gland)
CN X - Vagus (innervate heart, lungs, GI, etc)
What percentage of parasympathetic fibers travel in the vagus nerve?
Approximately 75%.
Where do parasympathetic sacral fibers originate? What do they affect?
Sacral portion contains S1-S4
They affect:
- uterus
- genitourinary tract
How long are parasympathetic preganglionic fibers compared to postganglionic
fibers? Which is myelinated
- Long preganglionic lightly myelinated fibers secrete ach to nicotinic (ganglia in
or very near target organ)
- Short postganglionic non myelinated secrete ach to muscarinic
**cholinergic receptors for both
What is the NT at the preganglionic neuron vs postganglionic neuron for PNS?
Long preganglionic NT: ach at nicotinic
Short postganglionic NT: ach at muscarinic
What are the two main endogenous nts?
SOLUTIONS 100% VERIFIED 2026-2027!!
What is the function of the Central Nervous System? What does it contain?
Processes information, sends commands down to body
- output from CNS control autonomic control
- can be excitatory or inhibitory
Contains:
- brain
- brainstem
- spinal cord
What are the characteristics of the Peripheral Nervous System?
- contains motor and sensory neurons
Path IN → sensory neurons signal to brain (afferent)
Path OUT → motor neurons signal body (efferent)
What are the divisions of the motor neurons in the PNS?
- somatic - voluntary mvmt (skeletal muscle) → uses ach NT at nicotinic (Nm)
receptors
- autonomic - involuntary mvmt (controls homeostasis)
What are divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?
- sympathetic
- parasympathetic
- enteric (GI)
What is the primary goal of the autonomic nervous system?
To maintain homeostasis by regulating involuntary functions.
Which body functions are regulated by the autonomic nervous system?
Modulates involuntary mechanisms
- Breathing, heart rate, GI motility, secretions, sweating, pupillary response, and
temperature.
What is a ganglion?
A cluster of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS.
What is the role of the soma?
Integrates incoming signals
What is the role of the dendrites?
Receive signals from other neurons and carry info to the soma
What does an action potential travel down? Where is it going to? Where does it
end?
,Travels down presynaptic cell axon from cell body
- rapid electrical wave caused by ion movement
- going to dendrites
- ends at synapse
In an axon terminal, what does the action potential do?
- triggers Ca2+ to enter
- Ca2+ triggers vesicles to release these neurotransmitters by exocytosis across
the presynaptic membrane to post synaptic membrane
What is the function of the postsynaptic membrane?
Contains receptors that generate a response when neurotransmitter binds.
- determines downstream organ effects
Where do sympathetic nerves originate anatomically?
Thoracolumbar spinal cord (T1-L2).
Where are sympathetic preganglionic neuron cell bodies located?
Intermediolateral horn of the spinal cord.
What pathway do sympathetic preganglionic fibers take to reach ganglia?
- Exit via anterior roots of intermediolateral horns
- pass via white rami into 1 of 22 pairs of ganglia composing the paravertebral
sympathetic chain.
What is the function of sympathetic postganglionic neurons? (Exit and
destination)
Exit from paravertebral ganglia and travel to various peripheral target organs.
What is the NT at the preganglionic neuron vs postganglionic neuron for SNS?
What are their receptors?
Preganglion NT: ach at nicotinic receptor
Postganglion NT: NE at alpha/beta adrenergic receptors
Aside from target organs, what else can sympathetic postganglionic fibers
influence?
- vascular smooth muscle tone
- activity of piloerector muscles and sweat glands
**includes involuntary control
How are sweat glands different than normal SNS stimulation?
Sweat glands postganglionic = ach and muscarinic receptors (like PNS)
Sweat sweats with ach. Hair stands with NE (piloerector muscles = a1).
SNS Preganglionic vs Postganglionic tracts
Short preganglionic (ach at nicotinic) - cholinergic receptor
Long postganglionic (NE at alpha/beta) - adrenergic receptor
Narrow SNS Depiction
, Green = sensory back to spinal cord via dorsal root
red = pregnaglionic leaving spinal cord to sympathetic chain
black = post ganglionic going to adrenergic receptor
What is another name for PNS? What cranial nerves and other areas carry
parasympathetic fibers?
Craniosacral system
CN III, V, VII, IX, and X and S1-S4 sacral portions of spinal cord
**nerves leave the CNS through these cns and cord
Cranial Nerve Name Refresher
(CN III, V, VII, IX, and X)
CN III - Oculomotor (pupil constriction/miosis)
CN V - Trigeminal, specifically third branch
CN VII - Facial (lacrimation and salivation)
CN IX - Glossopharyngeal (parotid gland)
CN X - Vagus (innervate heart, lungs, GI, etc)
What percentage of parasympathetic fibers travel in the vagus nerve?
Approximately 75%.
Where do parasympathetic sacral fibers originate? What do they affect?
Sacral portion contains S1-S4
They affect:
- uterus
- genitourinary tract
How long are parasympathetic preganglionic fibers compared to postganglionic
fibers? Which is myelinated
- Long preganglionic lightly myelinated fibers secrete ach to nicotinic (ganglia in
or very near target organ)
- Short postganglionic non myelinated secrete ach to muscarinic
**cholinergic receptors for both
What is the NT at the preganglionic neuron vs postganglionic neuron for PNS?
Long preganglionic NT: ach at nicotinic
Short postganglionic NT: ach at muscarinic
What are the two main endogenous nts?
