Sympathetic nervous system - wikipedia Sympathetic nervous system Sympathetic nervous system Schematic illustration showing the sympathetic nervous system with sympathetic cord and target organs. Details Identifiers Latin pars sympathica divisionis autonomici systematis nervosi Acronym ( s ) SNS MeSH D013564 TA A14. 3.01. 001 FMA 9906 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) The sympathetic nervous system ( SNS ) is one of the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the other being the parasympathetic nervous system. ( The enteric nervous system ( ENS ) is now usually referred to as separate from the autonomic nervous system since it has its own independent reflex activity. ) The autonomic nervous system functions to regulate the body 's unconscious actions. The sympathetic nervous system 's primary process is to stimulate the body 's fight - or - flight response. It is, however, constantly active at a basic level to maintain homeostasis homeodynamics. The sympathetic nervous system is described as being complementary to the parasympathetic nervous system which stimulates the body to `` feed and breed '' and to ( then ) `` rest - and - digest ''. Contents 1 Structure 1.1 Organization 1.2 Information transmission 2 Function 2.1 Sensation 2.2 Relationship with the parasympathetic nervous system 3 Disorders 4 History and etymology 5 See also 6 References Structure There are two kinds of neurons involved in the transmission of any signal through the sympathetic system : pre-ganglionic and post-ganglionic. The shorter preganglionic neurons originate from the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord specifically at T1 to L2 ~ L3, and travel to a ganglion, often one of the paravertebral ganglia, where they synapse with a postganglionic neuron. From there, the long postganglionic neurons extend across most of the body. At the synapses within the ganglia, preganglionic neurons release acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on postganglionic neurons. In response to this stimulus, the postganglionic neurons release norepinephrine, which activates adrenergic receptors that are present on the peripheral target tissues. The activation of target tissue receptors causes the effects associated with the sympathetic system. However, there are three important exceptions : Postganglionic neurons of sweat glands and chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. Postganglionic neurons of sweat glands release acetylcholine for the activation of muscarinic receptors, except for areas of thick skin, the palms and the plantar surfaces of the feet, where norepinephrine is released and acts on adrenergic receptors. Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla are analogous to post-ganglionic neurons ; the adrenal medulla develops in tandem with the sympathetic nervous system and acts as a modified sympathetic ganglion. Within this endocrine gland, pre-ganglionic neurons synapse with chromaffin cells, triggering the release of two transmitters : a small proportion of norepinephrine, and more substantially, epinephrine. The synthesis and release of epinephrine as opposed to norepinephrine is another distinguishing feature of chromaffin cells compared to postganglionic sympathetic neurons. Postganglionic sympathetic nerves terminating in the kidney release dopamine, which acts on dopamine D1 receptors of blood vessels to control how much blood the kidney filters. Dopamine is the immediate metabolic precursor to norepinephrine, but is nonetheless a distinct signaling molecule. Organization The sympathetic nervous system extends from the thoracic to lumbar vertebrae and has connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses. Sympathetic nerves arise from near the middle of the spinal cord in the intermediolateral nucleus of the lateral grey column, beginning at the first thoracic vertebra of the vertebral column and are thought to extend to the second or third lumbar vertebra. Because its cells begin in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord, the sympathetic nervous system is said to have a thoracolumbar outflow. Axons of these nerves leave the spinal cord through the anterior root. They pass near the spinal ( sensory ) ganglion, where they enter the anterior rami of the spinal nerves. However, unlike somatic innervation, they quickly separate out through white rami connectors ( so called from the shiny white sheaths of myelin around each axon ) that connect to either the paravertebral ( which lie near the vertebral column ) or prevertebral ( which lie near the aortic bifurcation ) ganglia extending alongside the spinal column. To reach target organs and glands, the axons must travel long distances in the body, and, to accomplish this, many axons relay their message to a second cell through synaptic transmission. The ends of the axons link across a space, the synapse, to the dendrites of the second cell. The first cell ( the presynaptic cell ) sends a neurotransmitter across the synaptic cleft where it activates the second cell ( the postsynaptic cell ). The message is then carried to the final destination. Presynaptic nerves ' axons terminate in either the paravertebral ganglia or prevertebral ganglia. There are four different paths an axon can take before reaching its terminal. In all cases, the axon enters the paravertebral ganglion at the level of its originating spinal nerve. After this, it can then either synapse in this ganglion, ascend to a more superior or descend to a more inferior paravertebral ganglion and synapse there, or it can descend to a prevertebral ganglion and synapse there with the postsynaptic cell. The postsynaptic cell then goes on to innervate the targeted end effector ( i.e. gland, smooth muscle, etc. ). Because paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia are relatively close to the spinal cord, presynaptic neurons are generally much shorter than their postsynaptic counterparts, which must extend throughout the body to reach their destinations. A notable exception to the routes mentioned above is the sympathetic innervation of the suprarenal ( adrenal ) medulla. In this case, presynaptic neurons pass through paravertebral ganglia, on through prevertebral ganglia and then synapse directly with suprarenal tissue. This tissue consists of cells that have pseudo-neuron like qualities in that when activated by the presynaptic neuron, they will release their neurotransmitter ( epinephrine ) directly into the bloodstream. In the sympathetic nervous system and other components of the peripheral nervous system, these synapses are made at sites called ganglia. The cell that sends its fiber is called a preganglionic cell, while the cell whose fiber leaves the ganglion is called a postganglionic cell. As mentioned previously, the preganglionic cells of the sympathetic nervous system are located between the first thoracic segment and third lumbar segments of the spinal cord. Postganglionic cells have their cell bodies in the ganglia and send their axons to target organs or glands. The ganglia include not just the sympathetic trunks but also the cervical ganglia ( superior, middle and inferior ), which sends sympathetic nerve fibers to the head and thorax organs, and the celiac and mesenteric ganglia ( which send sympathetic fibers to the gut ). Autonomic nervous supply to organs in the human body edit Organ Nerves Spinal column origin stomach PS : anterior and posterior vagal trunks S : greater splanchnic nerves T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, sometimes T10 duodenum PS : vagus nerves S : greater splanchnic nerves T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, sometimes T10 jejunum and ileum PS : posterior vagal trunks S : greater splanchnic nerves T5, T6, T7, T8, T9 spleen S : greater splanchnic nerves T6, T7, T8 gallbladder and liver PS : vagus nerve S : celiac plexus right phrenic nerve T6, T7, T8, T9 colon PS : vagus nerves and pelvic splanchnic nerves S : lesser and least splanchnic nerves T10, T11, T12 ( proximal colon ) L1, L2, L3, ( distal colon ) pancreatic head PS : vagus nerves S : thoracic splanchnic nerves T8, T9 vermiform appendix nerves to superior mesenteric plexus T10 kidneys and ureters PS : vagus nerve S : thoracic and lumbar splanchnic nerves T11, T12 Information transmission Sympathetic Nervous System - Information transmits through it affecting various organs. Messages travel through the sympathetic nervous system in a bi-directional flow. Efferent messages can trigger changes in different parts of the body simultaneously. For example, the sympathetic nervous system can accelerate heart rate ; widen bronchial passages ; decrease motility ( movement ) of the large intestine ; constrict blood vessels ; increase peristalsis in the oesophagus ; cause pupillary dilation, piloerection ( goose bumps ) and perspiration ( sweating ) ; and raise blood pressure. One exception is with certain blood vessels such as those in the cerebral and coronary arteries, which dilate ( rather than constrict ) with an increase in sympathetic tone. This is because of a proportional increase in the presence of β adrenergic receptors rather than α receptors. β receptors promote vessel dilation instead of constriction like α1 receptors. An alternative explanation is that the primary ( and direct ) effect of sympathetic stimulation on coronary arteries is vasoconstriction followed by a secondary vasodilation caused by the release of vasodilatory metabolites due to the sympathetically increased cardiac inotropy and heart rate. This secondary vasodilation caused by the primary vasoconstriction is termed functional sympatholysis, the overall effect of which on coronary arteries is dilation. The target synapse of the postganglionic neuron is mediated by adrenergic receptors and is activated by either norepinephrine ( noradrenaline ) or epinephrine ( adrenaline ). Function Examples of sympathetic system action on various organs except where otherwise indicated. Organ Effect Eye Dilates Heart Increases rate and force of contraction Lungs Dilates bronchioles via circulating adrenaline Blood vessels Dilate in skeletal muscle ( in animals ). Constricts in gastrointestinal organs Sweat glands Activates sweat secretion Digestive tract Inhibits peristalsis Kidney Increases renin secretion Penis Inhibits Tumescence Ductus deferens Promotes emission prior to ejaculation The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for up - and down - regulating many homeostatic mechanisms in living organisms. Fibers from the SNS innervate tissues in almost every organ system, providing at least some regulation of functions as diverse as pupil diameter, gut motility, and urinary system output and function. It is perhaps best known for mediating the neuronal and hormonal stress response commonly known as the fight - or - flight response. This response is also known as sympatho - adrenal response of the body, as the preganglionic sympathetic fibers that end in the adrenal medulla ( but also all other sympathetic fibers ) secrete acetylcholine, which activates the great secretion of adrenaline ( epinephrine ) and to a lesser extent noradrenaline ( norepinephrine ) from it. Therefore, this response that acts primarily on the cardiovascular system is mediated directly via impulses transmitted through the sympathetic nervous system and indirectly via catecholamines secreted from the adrenal medulla. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for priming the body for action, particularly in situations threatening survival. One example of this priming is in the moments before waking, in which sympathetic outflow spontaneously increases in preparation for action. Sympathetic nervous system stimulation causes vasoconstriction of most blood vessels, including many of those in the skin, the digestive tract, and the kidneys. This occurs as a result of activation of alpha - 1 adrenergic receptors by norepinephrine released by post-ganglionic sympathetic neurons. These receptors exist throughout the vasculature of the body but are inhibited and counterbalanced by beta - 2 adrenergic receptors ( stimulated by epinephrine release from the adrenal glands ) in the skeletal muscles, the heart, the lungs, and the brain during a sympathoadrenal response. The net effect of this is a shunting of blood away from the organs not necessary to the immediate survival of the organism and an increase in blood flow to those organs involved in intense physical activity. Sensation The afferent fibers of the autonomic nervous system, which transmit sensory information from the internal organs of the body back to the central nervous system ( or CNS ), are not divided into parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers as the efferent fibers are. Instead, autonomic sensory information is conducted by general visceral afferent fibers. General visceral afferent sensations are mostly unconscious visceral motor reflex sensations from hollow organs and glands that are transmitted to the CNS. While the unconscious reflex arcs normally are undetectable, in certain instances they may send pain sensations to the CNS masked as referred pain. If the peritoneal cavity becomes inflamed or if the bowel is suddenly distended, the body will interpret the afferent pain stimulus as somatic in origin. This pain is usually non-localized. The pain is also usually referred to dermatomes that are at the same spinal nerve level as the visceral afferent synapse. Relationship with the parasympathetic nervous system Together with the other component of the autonomic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system aids in the control of most of the body 's internal organs. Reaction to stress -- as in the flight - or - fight response -- is thought to counteract the parasympathetic system, which generally works to promote maintenance of the body at rest. The comprehensive functions of both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are not so straightforward, but this is a useful rule of thumb. Disorders In heart failure, the sympathetic nervous system increases its activity, leading to increased force of muscular contractions that in turn increases the stroke volume, as well as peripheral vasoconstriction to maintain blood pressure. However, these effects accelerate disease progression, eventually increasing mortality in heart failure. Sympathicotonia is a stimulated condition of the sympathetic nervous system, marked by vascular spasm, elevated blood pressure, and goose bumps. A recent study has shown the expansion of Foxp3+ natural Treg in the bone marrow of mice after brain ischemia and this myeloid Treg expansion is related to sympathetic stress signaling after brain ischemia. History and etymology The name of this system can be traced to the concept of sympathy, in the sense of `` connection between parts '', first used medically by Galen. In the 18th century, Jacob B. Winslow applied the term specifically to nerves. See also Epinephrine History of catecholamine research Limbic system Norepinephrine Sympathetic ganglia Sympathetic trunk References Jump up ^ Dorland 's ( 2012 ). Dorland 's Illustrated Medical Dictionary ( 32nd ed. ). Elsevier Saunders. p. 1862. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4160 - 6257 - 8. Jump up ^ Pocock G, Richards C ( 2006 ). Human Physiology The Basis of Medicine ( Third ed. ). Oxford University Press. p. 63. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 856878 - 0. ^ Jump up to : Brodal, Per ( 2004 ). The Central Nervous System : Structure and Function ( 3 ed. ). Oxford University Press US. pp. 369 -- 396. ISBN 0 - 19 - 516560 - 8. Jump up ^ Drake, Richard L. ; Vogl, Wayne ; Mitchell, Adam W.M., eds. ( 2005 ). Gray 's Anatomy for Students ( 1 ed. ). Elsevier. pp. 76 -- 84. ISBN 0 - 443 - 06612 - 4. Jump up ^ Rang, H.P. ; Dale, M.M. ; Ritter, J.M. ; Flower, R.J. ( 2007 ). Rang and Dale 's Pharmacology ( 6 ed. ). Elsevier. p. 135. ISBN 0 - 443 - 06911 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Silverthorn, Dee Unglaub ( 2009 ). Human Physiology : An Integrated Approach ( 4 ed. ). Pearson / Benjamin Cummings. pp. 379 -- 386. ISBN 0 - 321 - 54130 - 8. Jump up ^ Santiago Cuevas ; Van Anthony Villar ; Pedro A. Jose ; Ines Armando ( 2013 ). `` Renal Dopamine Receptors, Oxidative Stress, and Hypertension ''. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 14 ( 9 ) : 17553 -- 17572. doi : 10.3390 / ijms140917553. PMC 3794741. PMID 23985827. ^ Jump up to : Unless specified otherwise in the boxes, the source is : Moore, Keith L. ; Agur, A.M.R. ( 2002 ). Essential Clinical Anatomy ( 2nd ed. ). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 199. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7817 - 5940 - 3. Jump up ^ Klabunde, Richard E. ( 2012 ). Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts ( 2 ed. ). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 160. Jump up ^ Berger, Michael P. Hlastala ; Albert J. ( 2001 ). Physiology of respiration ( 2. ed. ). Oxford ( u.a. ) : Oxford Univ. Press. p. 177. ISBN 0195138465. Jump up ^ Jänig, Wilfrid ( 2006 ). The integrative action of the autonomic nervous system : neurobiology of homeostasis. Cambridge : UK. pp. 132 -- 135. ISBN 9780521845182. Jump up ^ Moro, C ; Tajouri, L ; Chess - Williams, R ( January 2013 ). `` Adrenoceptor function and expression in bladder urothelium and lamina propria ''. Urology. 81 ( 1 ) : 211. e1 -- 7. doi : 10.1016 / j. urology. 2012.09. 011. PMID 23200975. Jump up ^ Robert Ornstein ( 1992 ). The Evolution of Consciousness : of Darwin, Freud, and Cranial Fire : The Origins of the Way We Think. New York : Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0 - 671 - 79224 - 5. Jump up ^ Moore, K.L., & Agur, A.M. ( 2007 ). Essential Clinical Anatomy : Third Edition. Baltimore : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 34 - 35. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7817 - 6274 - 8 Jump up ^ Sherwood, Lauralee ( 2008 ). Human Physiology : From Cells to Systems ( 7 ed. ). Cengage Learning. p. 240. ISBN 0 - 495 - 39184 - 0. Jump up ^ Triposkiadis F, Karayannis G, Giamouzis G, Skoularigis J, Louridas G, Butler J ( 2009 ). `` The sympathetic nervous system in heart failure physiology, pathophysiology, and clinical implications ''. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 54 ( 19 ) : 1747 -- 62. doi : 10.1016 / j. jacc. 2009.05. 015. PMID 19874988. Jump up ^ thefreedictionary.com Citing : Dorland 's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. © 2007 ^ Jump up to : thefreedictionary.com Citing : The American Heritage Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007 Jump up ^ Wang J, Yu L, Jiang C, Fu X, Liu X, Wang M, Ou C, Cui X, Zhou C, Wang J ( August 2015 ). `` Cerebral ischemia increases bone marrow CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in mice via signals from sympathetic nervous system ''. Brain Behav Immun. 43 : 172 -- 83. doi : 10.1016 / j. bbi. 2014.07. 022. PMC 4258426. PMID 25110149. Jump up ^ Sympathy, Sympathetic. Evolution of a Concept and Relevance to Current Understanding of Autonomic Disorders ( 2013 ) Jump up ^ Olry, R. ( 1996 ). `` Winslow 's contribution to our understanding of the cervical portion of the sympathetic nervous system ''. J Hist Neurosci. 5 ( 2 ) : 190 -- 6. doi : 10.1080 / 09647049609525666. PMID 11619046. hide Nervous system Central nervous system Meninges Spinal cord Brain Rhombencephalon Medulla Pons Cerebellum Midbrain Forebrain Diencephalon Retina Optic nerve Cerebrum Limbic system Peripheral nervous system Somatic Sensory nerve Motor nerve Cranial nerve Spinal nerve Autonomic Sympathetic Parasympathetic Enteric hide Anatomy of the autonomic nervous system Head Sympathetic Cervical ganglia : roots long ciliary Deep petrosal Parasympathetic Ciliary ganglion : roots Sensory Parasympathetic Short ciliary Pterygopalatine ganglion : deep petrosal nerve of pterygoid canal branches of distribution : greater palatine inferior posterior nasal branches lesser palatine nasopalatine medial superior posterior nasal branches pharyngeal Submandibular ganglion Otic ganglion Neck Sympathetic paravertebral ganglia : Cervical ganglia Superior Middle Inferior Stellate ganglion prevertebral plexus : Cavernous plexus Internal carotid Chest Sympathetic paravertebral ganglia : Thoracic ganglia prevertebral plexus : Cardiac plexus Esophageal plexus Pulmonary plexus Thoracic aortic plexus splanchnic nerves : cardiopulmonary thoracic cardiac nerves : Superior Middle Inferior Abdomen Sympathetic paravertebral ganglia : Lumbar ganglia prevertebral ganglia : Celiac ganglia Aorticorenal Superior mesenteric ganglion Inferior mesenteric ganglion prevertebral plexus : Celiac plexus Hepatic Splenic Pancreatic aorticorenal Abdominal aortic plexus Renal / Suprarenal Superior mesenteric Gastric Inferior mesenteric Spermatic Ovarian Superior hypogastric hypogastric nerve Superior rectal Inferior hypogastric Vesical Prostatic / Cavernous nerves of penis Uterovaginal Middle rectal splanchnic nerves : Lumbar splanchnic nerves Enteric Submucous plexus Myenteric plexus Pelvis Sympathetic paravertebral ganglia : Sacral ganglia Ganglion impar splanchnic nerves : Sacral splanchnic nerves Parasympathetic splanchnic nerves : Pelvic splanchnic nerves NDL : 00566256 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sympathetic_nervous_system&oldid=846397489 '' Categories : Sympathetic nervous system Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2013 Wikipedia articles with NDL identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Беларуская Български Bosanski Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch ދިވެހިބަސް Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Italiano עברית Kreyòl ayisyen Lietuvių Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 37 more Edit links This page was last edited on 18 June 2018, at 14 : 22 ( UTC ). 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Question: also known as adrenaline stimulates the sympathetic nervous system
Answer: epinephrine