Autonomic Nervous System

What this page covers

This unit collects study material on the autonomic nervous system. The resources go over the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, the chemical signals they use, the receptors those signals reach, and the organs that respond. Some items look at single organs, such as Bladder Innervation and Autonomic regulation of the airways. Others cover the enteric nervous system, including a poster-style flowchart on the myenteric and submucosal plexuses.

Where to start

Begin with the overview material. The flashcard deck on the basic anatomy of the ANS asks what a ganglion is and where pre-ganglionic and post-ganglionic fibres originate. The mind map NS11 - Autonomic Nervous System 2 - Sympathetic vc Parasympathetic Nervous System then sets the two branches side by side. If you prefer reading, the note Neurotransmission in ANS & its receptors opens with the general features of the ANS.

Moving on to transmission and receptors

Once the layout is clear, turn to chemistry. The mind map Noradrenergic transmission follows noradrenaline from tyrosine through storage and release to adrenoreceptors. The deck ANS - Receptors covers membrane-bound receptor categories and second messengers. Separate decks on alpha and beta adrenergic receptors let you focus on one family at a time.

Using quizzes and maps together

Quizzes show what you can recall. Maps show how the parts connect.

1. Read or sketch a map on one topic.
2. Take a quiz on it, such as Types of efferent nerve pathways, which asks which neurotransmitter and receptors belong to labelled fibres.
3. Return to the map for the points you missed.
4. Try Autonomic Nervous System Practice Questions for clinical-style cases.

The lecture-based quiz sets, split into parts, suit longer sessions.

Where this unit sits

This unit belongs to the strand Nervous System and Senses within Physiology. Pick one resource that matches what you are studying now, then add your own maps and flashcards as you go.