Beta Blockers
Ninja Nerd
Beta Blockers and Autonomic Nervous System Physiology
In this note, we'll discuss beta blockers and their effects on various target organs.
To better understand beta blockers, let's first review the basics of autonomic
nervous system physiology.
The sympathetic nervous system targets certain organs during a fight or flight
response. Beta blockers can be found on multiple different target organs, but for
our purposes, we'll focus on the following:
Beta 1 receptors found in the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney, which
respond to epinephrine and norepinephrine
Beta 1 receptors on the conduction system and contractile cells
Beta 2 receptors on the lungs, particularly in the bronchial smooth muscle
Beta 2 adrenergic receptors on the vascular smooth muscle supplying the brain
and muscle
Acting on the beta 2 receptors can increase glucose and the ability to perform
anaerobic and aerobic respiration to produce ATP.
Triglycerides are broken down by lipoprotein lipase into free fatty acids which can
then be used by skeletal and cardiac muscles to produce ATP. This process
involves the stimulation of voltage-gated calcium channels, specifically the L-type
calcium channels. Epinephrine binds to beta1 adrenergic receptors on contractile
cells and beta 1 receptors are present on ventricular myocardium. Beta blockers
like timolol are used for treating high blood pressure and glaucoma.
Triglycerides and Lipoprotein Lipase
Triglycerides are a type of fat that is broken down via lipoprotein lipase into free
fatty acids. These free fatty acids are then delivered to skeletal and cardiac
muscles. This allows the muscles to produce more ATP, which provides them with
energy.
Ninja Nerd
Beta Blockers and Autonomic Nervous System Physiology
In this note, we'll discuss beta blockers and their effects on various target organs.
To better understand beta blockers, let's first review the basics of autonomic
nervous system physiology.
The sympathetic nervous system targets certain organs during a fight or flight
response. Beta blockers can be found on multiple different target organs, but for
our purposes, we'll focus on the following:
Beta 1 receptors found in the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney, which
respond to epinephrine and norepinephrine
Beta 1 receptors on the conduction system and contractile cells
Beta 2 receptors on the lungs, particularly in the bronchial smooth muscle
Beta 2 adrenergic receptors on the vascular smooth muscle supplying the brain
and muscle
Acting on the beta 2 receptors can increase glucose and the ability to perform
anaerobic and aerobic respiration to produce ATP.
Triglycerides are broken down by lipoprotein lipase into free fatty acids which can
then be used by skeletal and cardiac muscles to produce ATP. This process
involves the stimulation of voltage-gated calcium channels, specifically the L-type
calcium channels. Epinephrine binds to beta1 adrenergic receptors on contractile
cells and beta 1 receptors are present on ventricular myocardium. Beta blockers
like timolol are used for treating high blood pressure and glaucoma.
Triglycerides and Lipoprotein Lipase
Triglycerides are a type of fat that is broken down via lipoprotein lipase into free
fatty acids. These free fatty acids are then delivered to skeletal and cardiac
muscles. This allows the muscles to produce more ATP, which provides them with
energy.
