Abstract
The autonomic nervous system coordinates involuntary control of viscera and other tissues throughout the body, with the exception of skeletal muscle. This branch of the central nervous system, organized into parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions, integrates efferent and afferent fibers that regulate the activities of the majority of organs, glands, and smooth musculature found in the body. The presynaptic cell bodies of neurons composing both categories originate in the gray matter of the spinal column, but are classified by fundamental differences. Anatomically, the origin of the sympathetic (thoracolumbar) division of the central nervous system lies between the first thoracic (T1) and the second or third lumbar section (L2 or L3). In contrast, the exiting fibers of the parasympathetic division (craniosacral) originate from both the medulla oblongata and the sacral portion of the spinal cord (S2 to S4).
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Moore, K.L. and Dalley, A.F., III (eds.). (1999) Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 4th Ed. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA.
Vander A., Sherman J., Luciano D. (eds). (2001) Human Physiology, 8th Ed. McGraw-Hill, Boston, MA.
Hansen, J.T. and Koeppen, B.M. (eds.) (2002) Netter’s Atlas of Human Physiology. Icon Learning Systems, Teterboro, NJ.
Martini, F.H. (ed.) (2001) Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, 5th Ed. Cummings, New York, NY.
Berne, R.M. and Levy, M.N. (eds.). (1977) Cardiovascular Physiology, 3rd Ed. Mosby, St. Louis, MO.
Mohrman, D.E. and Heller, L.J. (eds.). (2003) Cardiovascular Physiology, 5th Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.
Netter, F.H. (ed.) (1998) Atlas of Human Anatomy, 2nd Ed. Novartis, East Hanover, NJ.
Kawano H., Okada R., and Yano K. (2003) Histological study on the distribution of autonomic nerves in the human heart. Heart Vessels. 18, 32–39.
Quan, K., Lee, J.H., Van Hare, G., Biblo, L., Mackall, J., and Carlson, M. (2002) Identification and characterization of atrioventricular parasympathetic innervation in humans. J Cardiovasc Electrophys. 13, 735–739.
Nolte, J. (ed.) (2002) The Human Brain: An Introduction to Its Functional Anatomy, 5th Ed. Mosby, St. Louis, MO.
Matthews, G.G. (ed.) (1998) Cellular Physiology of Nerve and Muscle, 3rd Ed. Blackwell Science, Malden, MA.
Evans, J.M., Ziegler, M.G., Patwardhan, A.R., et al. (2001) Gender differences in autonomic cardiovascular regulation: spectral, hormonal and hemodynamic indexes. J Appl Physiol. 91, 2611–2618.
Ziegler, M.G., Lake, C.R., and Kopin, I.J. (1977) Sympathetic nervous system defect in primary orthostatic hypotension. N Engl J Med. 296, 293.
Williams, V.L., Cooper, T., and Hanlon, C.R. (1963) Neural responses following autotransplantation of the canine heart. Circulation. 27, 713.
Watkins, P.J. and MacKay, J.D. (1980) Cardiac denervation in diabetic neuropathy. Ann Intern Med. 92, 304–307.
Vatner, D.E., Lavallee, M., Amano, J., Finizola, A., Homcy, C.J., and Vatner, S.F. (1985) Mechanisms of supersensitivity to sympathomimetic amines in the chronically denervated heart of the conscious dog. Circ Res. 57, 55–64.
Lavallee, M., Amano, J., Vatner, S.F., Manders, W.T., Randall, W.C., and Thomas, J.X. (1985) Adverse effects of chronic denervation in conscious dogs with myocardial ischemia. Circ Res. 57, 383–392.
McGinn, A.L., Wilson, R.F., Olivari, M.T., Homans, D.C., and White, C.W. (1988) Coronary vasodilator reserve after human orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Circulation. 78, 1200–1209.
Schwaiger, M., Hutchins, G.D., Kalff, V., et al. (1991) Evidence for regional catecholamine uptake and storage sites in the transplanted human heart by positron emission tomography. J Clin Invest. 87, 1681–1690.
Wilson, R.F., Johnson, T.H., Haidet, G.C., Kubo, S.H., and Mianuelli, M. (2000) Sympathetic reinnervation of the sinus node and exercise hemodynamics after cardiac transplantation. Circulation. 101, 2727–2733.
Bengel, F.M., Ueberfuhr, P., Schlepel, N., Reichart, B., and Schwaiger, M. (2001) Effect of sympathetic reinnervation on cardiac performance after heart transplantation. N Engl J Med. 345, 731–738.
Stark, R.P., McGinn, A.L., and Wilson, R.F. (1991) Chest pain in cardiac transplant recipients: evidence for sensory reinnervation after cardiac transplantation. N Engl J Med. 324, 1791–1794.
Mountcastle, V.B. (ed.) (1980) Medical Physiology, 14th Ed. Mosby, St. Louis, MO.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fitzgerald, K., Wilson, R.F., Iaizzo, P.A. (2005). Autonomic Nervous System. In: Iaizzo, P.A. (eds) Handbook of Cardiac Anatomy, Physiology, and Devices. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-835-9_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-835-9_10
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-443-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-835-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)