Deck 14: The Autonomic Nervous System

Question 1

Norepinephrine-releasing fibers are called cholinergic fibers.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The rami communicantes are associated only with the sympathetic division of the ANS.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Acetylcholine is released by all somatic motor neurons, all preganglionic neurons of the ANS and by the postganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Some sympathetic preganglionic fibers stimulate the adrenal medulla to release norepinephrine and epinephrine into the blood, producing a "surge of adrenaline."

Question 5

The facial (VII), glossopharyngeal (IX), and vagus (X) nerves contain postganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 6

The gray rami communicantes consist of myelinated postganglionic fibers.

Question 7

The ANS stimulates smooth muscles, skeletal muscles and glands, whereas the somatic nervous system innervates skeletal muscles only.

Question 8

Somatic and visceral reflex arcs are similar, but visceral reflex arcs lack afferent fibers (visceral sensory neurons).

Question 9

The parasympathetic division innervates more organs than the sympathetic division.

Question 10

The craniosacral division is another name for the parasympathetic division.

Question 11

The sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the ANS have the same effect on most body organ systems.

Question 12

Autonomic ganglia are sights of synapse and information transmission from preganglionic to postganglionic neurons.

Question 13

The celiac ganglion is primarily associated with the sympathetic division.

Question 14

All visceral organs receive dual innervation from both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the
ANS.

Question 15

Thermoregulatory responses to increased heat are mediated by the parasympathetic nervous division.

Question 16

Most disorders of the autonomic nervous system reflect abnormalities of smooth muscle control.

Question 17

The adrenal medulla is considered by some to be a "misplaced" sympathetic ganglion since embryologically, they arise from the same tissue.

Question 18

The autonomic nervous system may cause activation or inhibition, depending on the division that is active and the target that is affected.

Question 19

Autonomic ganglia are motor ganglia, containing the cell bodies of motor neurons.

Question 20

The effect of beta-blocker drugs (block beta-receptors) is to increase blood pressure.

Question 21

Most splanchnic nerves pass through the abdominal aortic plexus.

Question 22

The autonomic and somatic nervous systems are two separate systems that work totally independent of each other and lack any functional overlap.

Question 23

The somatic and autonomic nervous systems differ in all of the following EXCEPT .

A) their efferent pathways and ganglia
B) regulation of activity by higher brain centers
C) target organ responses to their neurotransmitters
D) their effectors

Question 24

Because many of the same cardiac cells are innervated by both parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers, the influence of the two divisions on the heart is synergistic, meaning contraction is strongest when both divisions act together.

Question 25

All splanchnic nerves are sympathetic.

Question 26

The vasomotor tone of blood vessels is mostly under sympathetic control.

Question 27

The effect of the parasympathetic division on the penis is vasodilation causing erection, while ejaculation is due to sympathetic stimulation.

Question 28

Most blood vessels are innervated by the sympathetic division alone.

Question 29

Which of the following does NOT describe the ANS?

A) involuntary nervous system
B) general visceral motor system
C) a system of motor neurons that innervates smooth and cardiac muscle and glands
D) a system of motor neurons that innervates all muscle cells

Question 30

Visceral reflexes include the reflexes that empty the bladder and the rectum.

Question 31

)-adrenergic receptors are the only receptors found on the heart.

Question 32

The blood vessels of the skin are one of the few areas of the body where the vessels are innervated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Question 33

The secretions of the adrenal medulla act to supplement the effects of .

A) vagus (X) nerve activity
B) parasympathetic innervation
C) somatic stimulation
D) sympathetic stimulation

Question 34

The sacral part of the parasympathetic division serves the pelvic organs and the distal half of the large intestine.

Question 35

Rami communicantes are designated white or gray to indicate whether or not the fibers passing through them are myelinated.

Question 36

Where would you NOT find a cholinergeric nicotinic receptor?

A) sarcolemma of skeletal muscle cells at neuromuscular junctions
B) all postganglionic neurons (cell bodies and dendrites)
C) adrenal medulla hormone producing cells
D) all parasympathetic target organs

Question 37

The parasympathetic ganglion that serves the lacrimal gland and nasal mucosa is the .

A) ciliary ganglion
B) otic ganglion
C) submandibular ganglion
D) pterygopalatine ganglion

Question 38

Cranial nerves III (oculomotor), VII (facial), and IX (glossopharyngeal) supply the entire parasympathetic innervation of the head; however, only the preganglionic fibers lie within these three pairs of cranial nerves.

Question 39

Albuterol (Ventolin) binds to )2 receptors and is used by asthma patients to constrict the bronchioles of the lungs and ease breathing.

Question 40

Preparing the body for the "fight-or-flight" response is the role of the .

A) somatic nervous system
B) parasympathetic division
C) cerebrum
D) sympathetic division

Question 41

Which of the following appears to exert the most direct influence over autonomic functions?

A) reticular formation
B) hypothalamus
C) medulla oblongata
D) midbrain

Question 42

Fibers that enter and leave the sympathetic trunks without synapsing form structures called .

A) spinal nerves
B) white rami communicantes
C) gray rami communicantes
D) splanchnic nerves

Question 43

Erection (vasodilation) of the penis or clitoris .

A) is primarily under parasympathetic control
B) is the result of coordinated activation by both sympathetic and parasympathetic input
C) depends very little on autonomic activation
D) is primarily under sympathetic control

Question 44

The "fight or flight" division of the autonomic nervous system is the .

A) parasympathetic division
B) peripheral division
C) sympathetic division
D) somatic division

Question 45

Once a sympathetic preganglionic axon reaches a trunk ganglion, it can do all of the following EXCEPT .

A) synapse with a ganglionic neuron in the same trunk ganglion
B) synapse with a parasympathetic neuron in the same trunk ganglion
C) ascend or descend the trunk to synapse in another trunk ganglion
D) pass through the trunk ganglion without synapsing with another neuron

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a result of parasympathetic stimulation?

A) salivation
B) dilation of the pupils
C) elimination of urine
D) increased peristalsis of the digestive viscera

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a plexus of the vagus (X) nerve?

A) cardiac
B) pulmonary
C) esophageal
D) inferior hypogastric

Question 48

Which is an exclusively sympathetic function?

A) regulation of respiratory rate
B) regulation of pupil size
C) regulation of body temperature
D) regulation of cardiac rate

Question 49

Drugs called beta-blockers .

A) decrease heart rate and blood pressure
B) have widespread sympathetic effects
C) increase a dangerously low heart rate
D) are potent antidepressants

Question 50

Over 90% of all parasympathetic fibers are derived from cranial nerve _.

A) V (trigeminal)
B) XII (hypoglossal)
C) VII (facial)
D) X (vagus)

Question 51

Visceral reflex arcs differ from somatic in that .

A) somatic arcs contain one additional component that visceral arcs do not possess
B) visceral arcs contain two sensory neurons
C) visceral arcs involve two motor neurons
D) visceral arcs do not use integration centers

Question 52

Sympathetic nerves may leave the spinal cord at which vertebra?

A) second cervical
B) first coccyx
C) first thoracic
D) third lumbar

Question 53

Sympathetic responses generally are widespread because _ _.

A) preganglionic fibers are short
B) inactivation of ACh is fairly slow
C) NE and epinephrine are secreted into the blood as part of the sympathetic response
D) preganglionic fibers are long

Question 54

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Sympathetic division has short preganglionic and long postganglionic fibers; parasympathetic has long preganglionic and short postganglionic fibers.
B) Sympathetic has extensive branching of preganglionic fibers; parasympathetic has minimal branching of preganglionic fibers.
C) Sympathetic origin is craniosacral; parasympathetic is thoracolumbar.
D) Sympathetic ganglia are within a few centimeters of the CNS; parasympathetic ganglia are close to the visceral organs served.

Question 55

Autonomic ganglia contain .

A) an outer connective tissue capsule around the cell bodies of preganglionic motor neurons
B) the cell bodies of motor neurons
C) synapses between postganglionic fibers and their effectors
D) both somatic afferent and efferent neurons

Question 56

Which of these effectors is NOT directly controlled by the autonomic nervous system?

A) skeletal muscle
B) most glands
C) smooth muscle
D) cardiac muscle

Question 57

Control of temperature, endocrine activity, and thirst are functions associated with the .

A) medulla
B) hypothalamus
C) thalamus
D) cerebellum

Question 58

The parasympathetic fibers of the nerve stimulate many large glands in the head such as the nasal and lacrimal glands.

A) trochlear (IV)
B) facial (VII)
C) oculomotor (III)
D) optic (II)

Question 59

Which of the following is a function of the parasympathetic division?

A) increases heart rate and force of contraction
B) produces "goosebumps"
C) dilates bronchioles
D) contracts smooth muscle of the bladder wall and relaxes urethral sphincter

Question 60

The parasympathetic tone .

A) causes blood pressure to rise
B) determines normal activity of the urinary tract
C) prevents unnecessary heart deceleration
D) accelerates activity of the digestive tract

Question 61

Where would you NOT find autonomic ganglia?

A) within wall of organ served or close to organ
B) paired, beside spinal cord
C) within spinal cord
D) unpaired, anterior to spinal cord

Question 62

Which of the following drug classes would be useful for smoking cessation products?

A) sympathomimetic agents
B) acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
C) parasympathomimetic agents (muscarinic agents)
D) nicotinic agents

Question 63

The smooth muscle of the digestive viscera is served largely by the .

A) lumbar splanchnic nerves
B) cephalic plexus
C) vagus (X) nerves
D) pelvic nerves

Question 64

Which of the following adrenergic neurotransmitter receptors plays the major role in heart activity?

A) beta 1
B) beta 2
C) beta 3
D) alpha 1

Question 65

Raynaud's disease _ _.

A) is frequently life threatening
B) is characterized by exaggerated vasoconstriction in the extremities
C) is induced by heat stress
D) occurs primarily in association with injury to the spinal cord

Question 66

Which target organ receives dual innervation?

A) kidney
B) sweat glands
C) coronary blood vessels
D) small intestine

Question 67

Which sympathetic fibers form a splanchnic nerve?

A) those that synapse in the same trunk ganglion they entered
B) those that synapse with somatic fibers
C) those that synapse with parasympathetic fibers
D) those that pass through the trunk ganglion to synapse in collateral or prevertebral ganglia

Question 68

The route of major parasympathetic outflow from the head is via the .

A) sympathetic trunk
B) vagus (X) nerves
C) phrenic nerve
D) sacral nerves

Question 69

Sympathetic division stimulation causes .

A) increased blood glucose, increased GI peristalsis, and decreased heart rate and blood pressure
B) decreased blood glucose, increased GI peristalsis, and decreased heart rate and blood pressure
C) increased blood glucose, decreased GI peristalsis, and increased heart rate and blood pressure
D) decreased blood glucose, increased GI peristalsis, and increased heart rate and blood pressure

Question 70

Emotions influence autonomic reactions primarily through integration in the .

A) lateral horn of the spinal cord
B) hypothalamus
C) inferior colliculus
D) lateral geniculate of the thalamus

Question 71

What studies have suggested that the ANS can also be subject to voluntary controls?

Question 72

Parasympathetic functions include .

A) lens accommodation for close vision
B) a stimulation of heart rate and force of contraction
C) raising blood glucose levels
D) allowing the body to cope with an external threat

Question 73

Which of the following is mismatched?

A) bronchiole dilation in lungs; sympathetic
B) penis ejaculation; sympathetic
C) gallbladder contracts to expel bile; parasympathetic
D) promotes urination; sympathetic

Question 74

Which of the following is NOT true about hypertension?

A) It is serious because it forces the heart to work harder and increases wear and tear on artery walls.
B) It is a disorder of the parasympathetic division of the ANS.
C) It may result from an overactive sympathetic vasoconstrictor response.
D) It is also known as high blood pressure.

Question 75

The mushroom poison muscarine can bind to receptors on .

A) cell bodies and dendrites of sympathetic postganglionic neurons
B) the hormone producing cells of the adrenal medulla
C) all effector cells stimulated by postganglionic cholinergic fibers
D) cell bodies and dendrites of parasympathetic postganglionic neurons

Question 76

Explain the concept of dual innervation in the autonomic nervous system. Provide two examples.

Question 77

Which type of drug would be useful in dilating the pupils for an examination of the retina?

A) beta-1 receptor mimic
B) muscarinic receptor inhibitor
C) alpha-1 receptor inhibitor
D) beta-3 receptor mimic

Question 78

A mugger steals your wallet causing all of the following to happen EXCEPT _.

A) inability to read close-up print
B) increased glucose uptake to the liver from blood
C) increased rate and force of heartbeat
D) increased metabolic rate

Question 79

How is Raynaud's disease related to the ANS?

Question 80

Which of the following is mismatched?

A) sympathetic postganglionic fibers; release NE
B) sympathetic preganglionic fibers; release ACh
C) parasympathetic preganglionic fibers; release ACh
D) parasympathetic postganglionic fibers; release NE