The Effects of the Autonomic Nervous System on Organ Systems

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Headshot of Skye McKennon , PharmD, BCPS, CSM-GEI
Skye McKennon
PharmD, BCPS, CSM-GEI
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Headshot of Connie Remsberg, PharmD, PhD
Connie Remsberg
PharmD, PhD
Office: SAC 403R
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Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Organ

Target

Actiona

Receptorb

Actiona

Receptorb

Eye

Iris

Radial muscle

Contracts

α1

Circular muscle

Contracts

M3

Ciliary muscle

[Relaxes]

β

Contracts

M3

Heart

Sinoatrial node

Accelerates

β1, β2

Decelerates

M2

Ectopic pacemakers

Accelerates

β1, β2

Contractility

Increases

β1, β2

Decreases (atria)

[M2]

Blood vessels

Skin, splanchnic vessels

Contracts

α

Skeletal muscle vessels

Relaxes

β2

Contracts

α

[Relaxes]

[Mc]

Lungs

Bronchiolar smooth muscle

Relaxes

β2

Contracts

M3

Gastrointestinal tract

Smooth muscle

Walls

Relaxes

α2,d β2

Contracts

M3

Sphincters

Contracts

α1

Relaxes

M3

Secretion

Inhibits

α2

Increases

M3

Myenteric plexus

Activates

M1

Genitourinary smooth muscle

Bladder wall

Relaxes

β2

Contracts

M3

Sphincter

Contracts

α1

Relaxes

M3

Uterus, pregnant

Relaxes

β2

Contracts

α

Contracts

M3

Penis, seminal vesicles

Ejaculation

α

Erection

M

Skin

Pilomotor smooth muscle

Contracts

α

Sweat glands

Thermoregulatory

Increases

M

Apocrine (stress)

Increases

α

Metabolic functions

Liver

Gluconeogenesis

β2, α

Liver

Glycogenolysis

β2, α

Fat cells

Lipolysis

β3

Kidney

Renin release

β1

Autonomic nerve endings

Sympathetic

NE release

Me

Parasympathetic

ACh release

α