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Chapter 9 - Spinal Autonomic Systems

from Part IV - Representation of the Autonomic Nervous System in the Spinal Cord and Lower Brain Stem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2022

Wilfrid Jänig
Affiliation:
Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Germany
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Summary

The spinal cord is an autonomic integrative organ in its own right. Preganglionic neurons, autonomic interneurons and primary afferent neurons form spinal autonomic reflex circuits, which are integrated into the regulation of preganglionic activity by supraspinal centers. Autonomic premotor neurons projecting from the brain stem and hypothalamus to the spinal cord synapse with preganglionic neurons and autonomic interneurons. The discharge pattern in the different types of sympathetic neuron is associated with integration into the spinal cord, brain stem and hypothalamus. Reflex integration in the spinal cord is related to distinct afferent inputs from skin, deep somatic tissues and viscera. Spinal interneurons and preganglionic neurons constitute spinal autonomic motor programs that are integrated into the regulation of autonomic target organs. Spinal circuits, spinal afferent inflows and descending influences from the brain stem and hypothalamus work together and determine the activity of the preganglionic sympathetic neurons. This organization is exemplified in the regulation of evacuation and continence of urinary bladder and colon-rectum and in the regulation of the sequence of erection, emission and ejaculation of male reproductive organs. The functioning of these pelvic organs depends on multiple sacral and sacro-lumbar reflex circuits and several supraspinal integrative centers that interact with them.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Integrative Action of the Autonomic Nervous System
Neurobiology of Homeostasis
, pp. 261 - 291
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

Suggested Reading

Bartel, B., Blumberg, H. and Jänig, W. (1986) Discharge patterns of motility-regulating neurons projecting in the lumbar splanchnic nerves to visceral stimuli in spinal cats. J Auton Nerv Syst 15, 153163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Groat, W. C., Griffiths, D. and Yoshimura, N. (2015) Neural control of the lower urinary tract. Compr Physiol 5, 327396.Google ScholarPubMed
Deuchars, S. A. and Lall, V. K. (2015) Sympathetic preganglionic neurons: properties and inputs. Compr Physiol 5, 829869.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Häbler, H. J., Hilbers, K., Jänig, W., et al. (1992) Viscero-sympathetic reflexes responses to mechanical stimulation of pelvic viscera in the cat. J Auton Nerv Syst 38, 147158.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jänig, W., Keast, J. R., McLachlan, E. M., Neuhuber, W. L. and Southard-Smith, M. (2017) Renaming all spinal autonomic outflows as sympathetic is a mistake. Auton Neurosci 206, 6062.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jänig, W., Schmidt, M., Schnitzler, A. and Wesselmann, U. (1991) Differentiation of sympathetic neurones projecting in the hypogastric nerves in terms of their discharge patterns in cats. J Physiol 437, 157179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shefchyk, S. J. (2002) Spinal cord neural organization controlling the urinary bladder and striated sphincter. Prog Brain Res 137, 7182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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  • Spinal Autonomic Systems
  • Wilfrid Jänig, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Germany
  • Book: The Integrative Action of the Autonomic Nervous System
  • Online publication: 16 July 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108778411.013
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  • Spinal Autonomic Systems
  • Wilfrid Jänig, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Germany
  • Book: The Integrative Action of the Autonomic Nervous System
  • Online publication: 16 July 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108778411.013
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Spinal Autonomic Systems
  • Wilfrid Jänig, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Germany
  • Book: The Integrative Action of the Autonomic Nervous System
  • Online publication: 16 July 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108778411.013
Available formats
×