Autonomic Nervous System: Types, Structure & Functions

Ans. Autonomic Neural System is a constituent of the peripheral neural system. The human neural system involves the brain, spinal cord and nerve impulses. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the autonomic neural system to transmit all the neural impulses from the central nervous system to that of other organs in the human body.

• The concept of the Autonomic Nervous System is associated with the involuntary actions of the human body.
• It collaborates for the coordination of visceral organs, which perform involuntary acts.
• The liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, and digestive tracts are usually associated with involuntary actions.

Parasympathetic Nervous System is one of the constituents of the peripheral nervous system, which is a part of the human nervous system. It is usually responsible for the cranio–sacral outflow because the nerves originate from the spinal cord and the brain stem.

• The preganglionic fibre is transmitted from the central nervous system.
• Later, it is terminated into the ganglia, which is located near the visceral organs.
• Postganglionic fibre is transmitted from the central nervous system and is later terminated into the visceral organ's muscle.

Ans. The human nervous system comprises the central neural system and the peripheral neural system. The Autonomic Nervous System is an important constituent of the peripheral neural system. It serves the significant purpose of transmitting the nerve impulses for the involuntary activities. It collaborates for the coordination of visceral organs, which perform involuntary acts such as the liver, lungs, kidney, heart, and digestive tracts, which are usually associated with involuntary actions.

Ans. The Autonomic Nervous System has two types, and both types have their own significant functions. One of them is the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the thoracolumbar outflow and functions as an exciter.

• The sympathetic nervous system gets activated during emergency situations.
• Its trunks stay in the Gasserian ganglion after entering from the cranium via the vagus nerve and vagus ganglion.
• These sympathetic trunks posteriorly join the tenth spinal nerve of the spinal cord.
• It includes a chain of sympathetic trunk and sympathetic ganglia.
• This interconnection gets fused over a period of time and becomes obscure in an adult.

Ans. A nerve impulse is the basic unit and mechanism that facilitates the human body's functioning. All the sense organs and the neural coordination work due to the fluent mechanism of the nerve impulse.

• The nerve impulse is considered as the kind of signals which are generated in the neuron. The factor responsible for the generation of the nerve impulse is called stimulus.
• Mainly, the nerve impulse comprises the electric and chemical signals which stimulate due to the existence of strong stimulus on the human body.
• Nerve impulses are responsible for the potential actions which are taken over by the human body, voluntary or involuntary.
• Generally, the potential travelling along the membrane is called the nerve impulse.
• A synapse is a small gap which is present in between the cells through which the messages are transmitted and communicated via nerve impulse.

Ans. The Autonomic Nervous System is the most important system in the human body and plays a vital role in the efficient functioning of the human nervous system. As mentioned below, the autonomic nervous system is made up of chains of two neurons that provide the path of transmission from the central nervous system to the visceral organs.

• The medullary oblongate and hypothalamic units of the brain lie at the heart of the autonomic nervous system.
• The neurons have a unique structure that is made up of cyons and axons at the start and end.
• The cyon of one neuron is located in the center of the nervous system.
• Axon of the other neuron is medullated and performs the functions of pre-gated motor fibres.
• The excitor of the second neuron acts as the excitatory neuron.
• The cell cluster of the autonomic ganglia is located near the central nervous system, which helps in the transmission of impulses.

Ans. The autonomic nervous system comprises the chains of two neurons, which provide for the transmission path between the central nervous system and the visceral organs. The neurons have a specific structure, due to which they consist of cytons and axons at the beginning and the end. The cyton of one neuron is placed in the central nervous system, whereas its axon is medullated. The axon performs the functions in the form of preganglionic motor fibres. At the same time, the second neuron in the path acts as the excitor. Its axon is non – medullated, and it performs the function of a postganglionic motor fibre.

Ans. A synapse is a small gap which is present in between the cells through which messages are transmitted and communicated via nerve impulse. Autonomic ganglia are a cell cluster of the synapse located towards the central nervous system and help transmit the impulses.

Ans. The difference between parasympathetic and sympathetic system are as follows:

Ans. The functions of the autonomic nervous system are mentioned below:

• It will control the coughing and sneezing cycle in the body. 
• The Autonomic Nervous System will control the arousal of sex in the human body.
• It will control the breathing cycle and heart rate of the body.
• The system helps in digestion and defecation of food.

Ans. Autonomic Nervous System is made of neurons, ganglia, nuclei and glial cells that help in the functioning of the body.

Ans. The brainstem is a part of the brain that is responsible for connecting the diencephalon and cerebrum of the brain with the spinal cord. It is composed of medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain. It is responsible for transferring from the body to the cerebrum and vice-versa. It is also involved in respiratory control, pain sensitivity control, and awareness in the body.