ANS Pharmacology Notes
(Autonomic Nervous System)
Complete Quick Revision + Mnemonics + Tables
Exam-Oriented - Easy Language - One Shot Revision - High Yield Points
🎯 What’s Inside
ANS Basics (SNS vs PNS)
Neurotransmitters & Receptors
Cholinergic Drugs
Anticholinergic Drugs
Adrenergic Drugs
Antiadrenergic Drugs
Comparison Tables
Side Effects Summary
Mnemonics Section
Prepared By:
Anish Mandal
Trusted by Students
Made for Exams
Understand Fast • Revise Faster • Score Better
, ANS Pharmacology – Basic Overview
What is ANS?
ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) is a part of nervous system that works
automatically (without thinking).
👉 It controls:
Heart beat ❤️
Breathing 🌬️
Digestion 🍽️
Eye functions 👁️
👉 We cannot control it by our will.
Types of ANS
ANS has 2 main parts:
1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
👉 Also called: Fight or Flight system
👉 Works in:
Stress
Fear
Emergency
👉 Function: Prepares body for action
2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
👉 Also called: Rest and Digest system
👉 Works in:
Relaxed state
Normal conditions
👉 Function: Saves energy & helps in digestion
,Fight vs Rest System (Easy Trick)
System Meaning When active Main role
Sympathetic Fight/Flight Stress, danger Increase
activity
Parasympathe Rest/Digest Relaxed state Decrease
tic activity
Effects on Different Organs
Organ Sympathetic (Fight) Parasympathetic
(Rest)
Heart ❤️ Increases heart rate Decreases heart rate
Lungs 🌬️ Bronchodilation Bronchoconstriction
(airways open) (airways narrow)
Eye 👁️ Pupil dilates Pupil constricts
(mydriasis) (miosis)
GIT 🍽️ Decreases digestion Increases digestion
Neurotransmitters & Receptors (ANS)
What are Neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry signals from one nerve to
another or to organs.
, 👉 In ANS, mainly 2 neurotransmitters:
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Norepinephrine (NE)
1. Acetylcholine (ACh)
👉 Found in:
All parasympathetic nerves
Some sympathetic (sweat glands)
👉 Function:
Decreases heart rate ❤️
Increases digestion 🍽️
Causes pupil constriction 👁️
👉 Acts on:
Cholinergic receptors
2. Norepinephrine (NE)
👉 Found in:
Most sympathetic nerves
👉 Function:
Increases heart rate ❤️
Dilates pupil 👁️
Reduces digestion 🍽️
👉 Acts on:
Adrenergic receptors
Receptors in ANS
1. Cholinergic Receptors (ACh receptors)
Types:
(Autonomic Nervous System)
Complete Quick Revision + Mnemonics + Tables
Exam-Oriented - Easy Language - One Shot Revision - High Yield Points
🎯 What’s Inside
ANS Basics (SNS vs PNS)
Neurotransmitters & Receptors
Cholinergic Drugs
Anticholinergic Drugs
Adrenergic Drugs
Antiadrenergic Drugs
Comparison Tables
Side Effects Summary
Mnemonics Section
Prepared By:
Anish Mandal
Trusted by Students
Made for Exams
Understand Fast • Revise Faster • Score Better
, ANS Pharmacology – Basic Overview
What is ANS?
ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) is a part of nervous system that works
automatically (without thinking).
👉 It controls:
Heart beat ❤️
Breathing 🌬️
Digestion 🍽️
Eye functions 👁️
👉 We cannot control it by our will.
Types of ANS
ANS has 2 main parts:
1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
👉 Also called: Fight or Flight system
👉 Works in:
Stress
Fear
Emergency
👉 Function: Prepares body for action
2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
👉 Also called: Rest and Digest system
👉 Works in:
Relaxed state
Normal conditions
👉 Function: Saves energy & helps in digestion
,Fight vs Rest System (Easy Trick)
System Meaning When active Main role
Sympathetic Fight/Flight Stress, danger Increase
activity
Parasympathe Rest/Digest Relaxed state Decrease
tic activity
Effects on Different Organs
Organ Sympathetic (Fight) Parasympathetic
(Rest)
Heart ❤️ Increases heart rate Decreases heart rate
Lungs 🌬️ Bronchodilation Bronchoconstriction
(airways open) (airways narrow)
Eye 👁️ Pupil dilates Pupil constricts
(mydriasis) (miosis)
GIT 🍽️ Decreases digestion Increases digestion
Neurotransmitters & Receptors (ANS)
What are Neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry signals from one nerve to
another or to organs.
, 👉 In ANS, mainly 2 neurotransmitters:
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Norepinephrine (NE)
1. Acetylcholine (ACh)
👉 Found in:
All parasympathetic nerves
Some sympathetic (sweat glands)
👉 Function:
Decreases heart rate ❤️
Increases digestion 🍽️
Causes pupil constriction 👁️
👉 Acts on:
Cholinergic receptors
2. Norepinephrine (NE)
👉 Found in:
Most sympathetic nerves
👉 Function:
Increases heart rate ❤️
Dilates pupil 👁️
Reduces digestion 🍽️
👉 Acts on:
Adrenergic receptors
Receptors in ANS
1. Cholinergic Receptors (ACh receptors)
Types:
