In: Anatomy and Physiology
Describe the structure and function of sympathetic nerves innervating the Adrenal Medulla. What are the neurotransmitters/ neurohormones involved? What effect does this pathway and the Adrenal Medulla secretions have on the overall sympathetic nervous system’s effect on target cells.
Sympathetic nervous system is a part of ANS.
The sympathetic nervous system contains preganglionic and post
ganglionic neurons.
Ths preganglionic fibres originate from T1 to L2-L3 level of spinal
cord and travelti the paravertebral ganglia. There they make
synapse with the postganglionic fibres.
The preganglionic fibres of the sympathetic system synapses with
the chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla and release acetylcholine.
This causes release of epinephrine and norepinephrine from the
adrenal medulla.
The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine binds to adrenergic
receptors on the target cells causes following effects:
1. Increase heart contractibility and increase heart rate and cardiac output
2. acts on blood vessels to cause vasoconstriction
3. acts on salivary gland to decrease salivation
4. acts on lungs to cause bronchodilation
5. acts on detrusor muscle and cause relaxation
6. Decrease gastrointestinal motility
7. acts on the pupils and dilates the pulpil
8. acts on sweat glands and increase sweating
9. Acts on liver to increase conversion of glycogen to glucose