Nervous System Pathways and Receptors

Front

What happens to the spinal nerve after it exits the spinal column?

Back

The spinal nerve divides into the ventral and dorsal rami, which contain both sensory and motor fibers.

Front

What is the role of each pair of spinal nerves?

Back

Each pair of spinal nerves is responsible for a specific area of the body. For example, the T1 and T2 nerves supply the top of the chest, arm, and hand, while the T3, T4, and T5 nerves supply the chest wall and aid in breathing.

Front

Where do signals in the sympathetic nerve route originate?

Back

Signals originate in the thoracic region (T1-T6) of the spinal cord.

Front

What is the path of signals in the sympathetic nerve route?

Back

Signals enter the sympathetic chain, synapse with ganglia in the chain, and postganglionic fibers travel from the ganglia to target organs.

Front

What are the origins of the splanchnic nerves?

Back

The greater splanchnic nerve originates from the T5–T9 spinal roots, the lesser splanchnic nerve from the T10–T11 roots, and the least splanchnic nerve from the T12 root.

Front

What is the function of the splanchnic nerves?

Back

The splanchnic nerves transmit signals in the abdominal cavity and contribute to the celiac plexus. The postsynaptic fibers of the greater splanchnic nerve supply the foregut organs.

Front

What is the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

Back

The sympathetic division prepares the body for physical activity or danger, known as the 'fight-or-flight' response, by activating organ systems to increase heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure, while decreasing digestion and urination.

Front

What are metabotropic receptors?

Back

Metabotropic receptors, also known as G-protein-coupled receptors, are membrane receptors that initiate metabolic steps to modulate cell activity. Examples include glutamate receptors, muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, and GABAB receptors.

Front

Norepinephrine

Back

(Noradrenaline) is a chemical messenger that functions as both a hormone and a neurotransmitter in the body. It is a neurotransmitter of the brain that plays an essential role in the regulation of arousal, attention, cognitive function, and stress reactions. It constricts blood vessels, which helps maintain blood pressure in times of stress.

Front

Epinephrine

Back

Adrenaline is a hormone and medication used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions and low blood pressure. Both a neurotransmitter and a hormone, it acts mainly as a hormone, playing an important role in your body's fight-or-flight response.