©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
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Nagelhout: autonomic nervous system. Exam
Questions And Answers
Basic sequence of the synthesis of endogenous catecholamines - Answers✔Tyrosine converted
by tyrosine hydroxylase > Dopa
Dopa converted by aromatic L amino acid decarboxylase > Dopamine
Dopamine converted by Dopamine B hydroxylase > NE
NE converted by phentylethnolamine N methyltransferase > Epi
dietary amino acid that is necessary for catecholamine synthesis - Answers✔tyrosine
how are catecholamines metabolized? - Answers✔by 2 enzymes
1. COMT (catechol-o-metiltransferase) found in synapse
2. MAO (mono-amine oxidase) found in mitochonidria of nerve cell in
(many metabolites formed and some can be used)
forgive the spelling.. i just don't care
1|Page
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review of the PNS and SNS - Answers✔...
explain the PNS beginning with the parasympathetic nerve - Answers✔1. long preganglionic
fiber
2. synapse at ganglia
3. neurotransmitter is ACh
4. nicotinic-cholinergic receptor at the ganglia
5. muscarinic cholinergic receptor post ganglia (at effector tissue)
6. short post ganglionic fiber (ganglia very close to the actual tissue)
explain the SNS beginning with the sympathetic nerve - Answers✔1. short preganglionic fiber
2. synapse at ganglia
3. neurotransmitter is ACh pre-synaptic
4. nicotinic cholinergic receptor at ganglia
5. long post ganglionic fiber (ganglia close to the cord)
6. neurotransmitter is NE post-synaptic
7. adrenergic receptor at effector tissue (can be alpha, beta, or dopa)
in general, the parasympathetic response tends to be ____, and the sympathetic response
tends to be ____, with the exception of the ____ which is ____.
2|Page
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(inhibitory or excitatory) - Answers✔in general, the parasympathetic response tends to be
excitatory, and the sympathetic response tends to be inhibitory, with the exception of the heart
which is excitatory.
explain the negative feedback response for the sympathetic nervous system -
Answers✔catecholamine NE is released from the nerve and typically attaches to adrenergic
receptors at the target tissue = produces sympathetic activity
there is, however, a #2 receptor site on the pre-ganglionic side (autoreceptor) that causes a
negative feedback response mechanism. when NE binds to the pre-ganglionic receptor it causes
sympatholytic effect by controlling/preventing further NE release
true or false; the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems communicate by way of
epi release - Answers✔false; they communicate by way of NE release. (when NE release, it can
also affect the parasympathetic side and/or communication with other)
how does precedex/dexmetatomidine work? - Answers✔selectively attaching to the
presynaptic alpha 2 receptors and therefore producing sympatholytic (negative feedback
response) and leading to sedation and decrease in BP
what are the 10 mechanisms by which we can mess with an autonomic nerve - Answers✔1.
interfere with synthesis of neurotransmitter
2. metabolic transformation by same pathway as precursor of transmitter (false transmitter)
3. blocking transport system at nerve terminal membrane
3|Page
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4. blocking transport system at storage vesicles
5. promotion of exocytosis or displacement of transmitter from axonal terminal
6. preventing release of transmitter
7. mimicry of transmitter at post-junctional sites
8. blocking post-synaptic receptor
9. inhibition of enzymatic breakdown of transmitter
10. interference with 2nd messenger system
explain how we could cause mechanism #1
1. interfere with synthesis of neurotransmitter - Answers✔the rate limiting enzyme for
catecholamine synthesis = tyrosine hydroxylase. it converts tyrosine (essential dieteary amino
acid) to Dopa and ...blah blah blah (notecard #1)
if we have a drug that inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase then tyrosine can't be
converted to dopa
what kind of overall action will we see if tyrosine hydroxylase is inhibited? - Answers✔less
catecholamine production = sympatholytic response
this is the only tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor - Answers✔metyrosine (Demser)
explain how we could cause mechanism #2
4|Page
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Nagelhout: autonomic nervous system. Exam
Questions And Answers
Basic sequence of the synthesis of endogenous catecholamines - Answers✔Tyrosine converted
by tyrosine hydroxylase > Dopa
Dopa converted by aromatic L amino acid decarboxylase > Dopamine
Dopamine converted by Dopamine B hydroxylase > NE
NE converted by phentylethnolamine N methyltransferase > Epi
dietary amino acid that is necessary for catecholamine synthesis - Answers✔tyrosine
how are catecholamines metabolized? - Answers✔by 2 enzymes
1. COMT (catechol-o-metiltransferase) found in synapse
2. MAO (mono-amine oxidase) found in mitochonidria of nerve cell in
(many metabolites formed and some can be used)
forgive the spelling.. i just don't care
1|Page
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
review of the PNS and SNS - Answers✔...
explain the PNS beginning with the parasympathetic nerve - Answers✔1. long preganglionic
fiber
2. synapse at ganglia
3. neurotransmitter is ACh
4. nicotinic-cholinergic receptor at the ganglia
5. muscarinic cholinergic receptor post ganglia (at effector tissue)
6. short post ganglionic fiber (ganglia very close to the actual tissue)
explain the SNS beginning with the sympathetic nerve - Answers✔1. short preganglionic fiber
2. synapse at ganglia
3. neurotransmitter is ACh pre-synaptic
4. nicotinic cholinergic receptor at ganglia
5. long post ganglionic fiber (ganglia close to the cord)
6. neurotransmitter is NE post-synaptic
7. adrenergic receptor at effector tissue (can be alpha, beta, or dopa)
in general, the parasympathetic response tends to be ____, and the sympathetic response
tends to be ____, with the exception of the ____ which is ____.
2|Page
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
(inhibitory or excitatory) - Answers✔in general, the parasympathetic response tends to be
excitatory, and the sympathetic response tends to be inhibitory, with the exception of the heart
which is excitatory.
explain the negative feedback response for the sympathetic nervous system -
Answers✔catecholamine NE is released from the nerve and typically attaches to adrenergic
receptors at the target tissue = produces sympathetic activity
there is, however, a #2 receptor site on the pre-ganglionic side (autoreceptor) that causes a
negative feedback response mechanism. when NE binds to the pre-ganglionic receptor it causes
sympatholytic effect by controlling/preventing further NE release
true or false; the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems communicate by way of
epi release - Answers✔false; they communicate by way of NE release. (when NE release, it can
also affect the parasympathetic side and/or communication with other)
how does precedex/dexmetatomidine work? - Answers✔selectively attaching to the
presynaptic alpha 2 receptors and therefore producing sympatholytic (negative feedback
response) and leading to sedation and decrease in BP
what are the 10 mechanisms by which we can mess with an autonomic nerve - Answers✔1.
interfere with synthesis of neurotransmitter
2. metabolic transformation by same pathway as precursor of transmitter (false transmitter)
3. blocking transport system at nerve terminal membrane
3|Page
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
4. blocking transport system at storage vesicles
5. promotion of exocytosis or displacement of transmitter from axonal terminal
6. preventing release of transmitter
7. mimicry of transmitter at post-junctional sites
8. blocking post-synaptic receptor
9. inhibition of enzymatic breakdown of transmitter
10. interference with 2nd messenger system
explain how we could cause mechanism #1
1. interfere with synthesis of neurotransmitter - Answers✔the rate limiting enzyme for
catecholamine synthesis = tyrosine hydroxylase. it converts tyrosine (essential dieteary amino
acid) to Dopa and ...blah blah blah (notecard #1)
if we have a drug that inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase then tyrosine can't be
converted to dopa
what kind of overall action will we see if tyrosine hydroxylase is inhibited? - Answers✔less
catecholamine production = sympatholytic response
this is the only tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor - Answers✔metyrosine (Demser)
explain how we could cause mechanism #2
4|Page
