14. The Autonomic Nervous System

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

d. Sympathetic tone controls the resting rate of the heart.

Using 20 or fewer words, define each of the following terms in your own words.

a. Sympathetic nervous system

You are running a race to the top of a mountain. Explain all the changes your sympathetic nervous system will initiate to maintain homeostasis as you run the race.

Mr. Chevalier has been diagnosed with Horner syndrome, which is caused by dysfunction of the sympathetic neurons in the superior cervical ganglion that innervate structures of the head, face, and neck. What symptoms is Mr. Chevalier likely to face due to his disease? Explain.

How does the emergence of sympathetic fibers from the spinal cord differ from the emergence of parasympathetic fibers?

The parasympathetic nervous system influences digestion by:

a. Relaxing smooth muscle

b. Stimulating peristalsis and secretory activity

c. Constricting sphincters

d. None of these

Explain both the anatomical and functional divisions of the nervous system. Include the subdivisions of each.

Tara, a 16-year-old girl, was rushed to the hospital after taking a bad spill off the parallel bars. After she had a complete neurological workup, her family was told that she would be permanently paralyzed from the waist down. During rehabilitation, her neurologist outlined for Tara and her parents the importance of preventing complications in such cases. Common complications include urinary infection, bed sores, and muscular spasms. Using your knowledge of neuroanatomy, explain the underlying reasons for these complications.

Common findings in heart failure are fluid retention by the kidneys and stimulation of the heart by the sympathetic nervous system. How would both of these findings help the body to compensate for the failing heart?

Describe the neural mechanisms responsible for controlling blood pressure.