Answer the following questions in the discussion forum:
You have been to an ‘eat all you can’ buffet and have consumed large amounts of food. After returning home, you recline on the couch to watch television. Which division of the nervous system will be handling your body’s after-dinner activities? List several organs involved, the major nerve supply to each organ, and the effects of the nervous system on their functions.
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DIVISION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM |
|
Parasympathetic Nervous System (Rest and Digest) |
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ORGAN’S NERVE SUPPLY AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM’S EFFECT ON ITS PHYSIOLOGY |
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ORGAN |
NERVE SUPPLY |
EFFECTS OF NS ON ORGARN'S PHYSIOLOGY |
|
Esophagus |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Assumes control of swallowing when food or liquid reaches the top of the esophagus. |
|
Gallbladder |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Stabilizes the muscular tone of the gallbladder. |
|
Heart |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Emits acetylcholine to reduce the heart rate. |
|
Kidneys |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Boosts renal vascular resistance, renin release, and tubular sodium reabsorption. |
|
Small and Large Intestine |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Regulates the colon's propulsive motion, especially before defecation. |
|
Liver |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Influences the metabolism of ketone bodies. |
|
Lungs |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Restricts the amount of labor the lungs must do when at rest by tightening the muscles that support the airways. |
|
Pancreas |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Increases insulin and enzyme production. |
|
Rectum and Anus |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Stimulates the passage of feces and causes defecation. |
|
Salivary Glands |
Facial (VII) Nerve |
Compels glands to produce more saliva. |
|
Spleen |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Interferes with immune cell activation. |
|
Stomach |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Governs the tone and movement of the stomach and intestines both excitably and inhibitive. |
|
Ureters |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Evoke the contraction of the detrusor muscle. |
|
Urinary Bladder |
Vagus (X) Nerve |
Activates a variety of muscarinic receptors in bladder smooth muscles. |
In a nutshell, when the body is at ease, resting, or eating, the parasympathetic nervous system is in charge of the digestion and rest response. After a stressful incident, it essentially undoes what sympathetic division accomplished. The parasympathetic nerve system speeds up digestion while slowing down breathing and heart rate.
Your friend is driving home from work, listening to her favorite music, when suddenly a bicycle comes out of nowhere. She manages to swerve avoiding hitting the bicycle. She continued to drive home but she noticed that her heart was beating fast, she had goosebumps, and her head was sweaty. How would you explain these effects?
Automatic activation of fight or flight response in the detection of stress, worry, anxiety, fear, and exhilaration is made within the reach of the human body through the Autonomic Nervous System. Its domain generates a sequence of hormones on a chemical level which compel individuals to be hyper-alert, focused, and energized. Execution of this chemical cascade then causes the inception of goosebumps, increased heart rate, and sweating of hands. Normally, such occurrence involves a balance of the Autonomic Nervous System's two circuits: the Parasympathetic Nervous System and the Sympathetic Nervous System. The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is sometimes known as the "fight or flight" system. Its counterpart is the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS), also known as the "relax and digest" system. Thus, with a blueprint to achieve the architecture of homeostasis, the Parasympathetic Nervous System and Sympathetic Nervous System collaborate to help us act, react, recover, and survive in all regions of the body.
References:
Chennai, D.J. (2015). Why does our heart beat rate rise when we get frightened? https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/why-does-our-heart-beat-rate-rise-when-we-get-frightened/article7668406.ece
Cleveland Clinic (n.d.). Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23266-parasympathetic-nervous-system-psns#:~:text=Lungs%3A%20It%20tightens%20airway%20muscles,to%20help%20you%20digest%20food.
Recognizing and easing the physical symptoms of anxiety. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/recognizing-and-easing-the-physical-symptoms-of-anxiety#:~:text=The%20autonomic%20nervous%20system%20produces,%2C%20shakiness%2C%20or%20stomach%20pain.
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. H. (2018). Principles of anatomy and physiology. John Wiley & Sons.