Question

4. Describe the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Include in your answer descriptions of their similarities and differences, including functions, location, organization, and neurotransmitters.

Answer 1

Sympathetic nervous system are part of the autonomic system which originate from the spinal cord of the thoracic and lumbar region, they are mainly responsible for flight or fight response

Parasympathetic nervous system are part of autonomic system that originate from the spinal cord and the medula and are mainly responsible for rest and digest response.

Similarities :

1.The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system are part of the autonomic nervous system and originate from the spinal cord.

2. Both the system play an important role in homestasis of the body.

3. Both the system contain preganglionic and post ganglionic neurons.

Differences.

1. The sympathetic nervous system originate from the cranial, thoracic and lumbar region of CNS

. The parasympathetic nervous system originate from cranial and sacral region of central nervous system.

2. The sympathetic nervous sytem prepares the body for intense physical activity, they are activated during stress

The parasympathetic nervous system relax the body and inhibit high energy functions.they are activated during rest and relaxation.

3. The sympathetic system promotes shallow breathing, increased heart rate, blood pressure and causes pupil dilation.

The parasympathetic promotes deep breathing, slows down heart rate, decreases blood pressure and cause constriction of pupils.

4. The sympathetic activity slows down digestion.

The parasympathetic activity speed up digestion.

5. The ganglion of the sympathetic system are closer to the spinal cord and away from the effectors like muscles and glands.

The ganglion of parasympathetic system are away from the spinal cord and closer to the effectors.

6. Post ganglionic fibers in the sympathetic system are adrenergic so they use epinephrine and norepinephrine as primary neurotransmitter.

The post ganglionic fibers in the parasympathetic system are cholinergic so they use acetylcholine as their primary neurotransmitter.