Peripheral nervous system PNS

Acetylcholine (Ach) is an ester of acetic acid and choline with the chemical formula CH3COOCH2CH2N+ (CH3)3. ACh functions as a chemical transmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in a wide range of organisms, humans included. Neurotransmitter involved in behavioral state control, postural tone, cognition and memory, and autonomous parasympathetic (and preganglionic sympathetic) nervous system. 

The nervous system is a complex part of the human body concerned with die regulation and coordination of body activities such as movement, digestion of food, sleep, and elimination of waste products. The nervous system has two main divisions the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Figure 22-1 illustrates the divisions of die nervous system. 

In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), HIV-1 infection and its treatment using HAART are associated with the development of neuropathic pain syndromes characterized by severe lancinating pain as well as parathesias and burning pain in the extremities. Damage to peripheral nerves has been associated with these syndromes. HIV-1-associated polyneuropathy has become the most common neurological complication of HIV-1 infection (Pardo et al. 2001). More than half of individuals with... 

The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves that arise from the brainstem and 31 pairs of spinal nerves arising from the spinal cord. These peripheral nerves carry information between the CNS and the tissues of the body. The PNS consists of two divisions ... 

Anatomically, the human nervous system may be divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The major subdivision of the central nervous system is into the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is divided into the motor or efferent system (efferent = away from ), and the sensory or afferent (afferent = toward ) nervous systems (Figure 2.1). 

L-dopa is effective in the treatment of Parkinson s disease, a disorder characterised by low levels of dopamine, since L-dopa is metabolised into dopamine. However, this biosynthesis normally occurs in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system CNS. The related drug carbidopa inhibits aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase only in the periphery, since it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. So, when carbidopa is given with L-dopa, it reduces the biosynthesis of L-dopa to dopamine in the periphery and, thus, increases the bioavailability of L-dopa for the dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Hence, carbidopa increases the clinical efficacy of L-dopa for Parkinsonian patients. 

NGF also has actions within the CNS, although it is not particularly abundant in the CNS. Its synthesis appears to be largely restricted to the hippocampus and neocortex, and even in these regions it is present at relatively low concentrations relative to the other neurotrophins. The most prominent population of NGF-responsive neurons expressing TrkA are the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. The principal projections of these neurons are to the hippocampus and cortex, which conforms with the concept that NGF acts as a target-derived trophic factor in the CNS, just as it does in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). NGF also acts on a subpopulation of cholinergic neurons within the striatum. These interneurons express the NGF receptor, TrkA, and respond to NGF. However, they do not appear to rely entirely on NGF for their survival, and the specific actions of NGF on this neuronal population have not been clearly defined. NGF may also have autocrine actions in the CNS, as some neuronal populations have been identified that express both TrkA and NGF. 

Despite the obvious expression of GABAb receptors in many peripheral organs, such as heart, spleen, lung, liver, intestine, stomach, and urinary bladder, no overt peripheral phenotype has been described for GABAB(1)-deficient mice. However, as in the central nervous system (CNS), knockout studies demonstrate that the GABAB(i) subunit is an essential requirement for GABAb receptor function in the enteric and peripheral nervous system (PNS) (66). 

The nervous system consists of two main units the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes the body s system of nerves that control the muscles (motor function), the senses (the sensory nerves), and which are involved in other critical control functions. The individual units of the nervous system are the nerve cells, called neurons. Nenrons are a nniqne type of cell becanse they have the capacity to transmit electrical messages aronnd the body. Messages pass from one nenron to the next in a strnctnre called a synapse. Electric impnlses moving along a branch of the nenron called the axon reach the synapse (a space between nenrons) and canse the release of certain chemicals called neurotransmitters, one of which, acetylcholine, we described earlier in the chapter. These chemicals migrate to a nnit of the next nenron called the dendrites, where their presence canses the bnild-np of an electrical impnlse in the second nenron. 

The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord. We shall refer to it as the CNS. The peripheral nervous system, PNS, is composed of nerves, bundles of individual cells called neurons, which connect the CNS to the rest of the body. If we make a very rough analogy to a bicycle wheel, then the CNS is the hub and the PNS is the spokes. When the bike tire hits the road, force is generated at the hub and is transmitted by the spokes. 

It is time to build a little more on the structure that we have established. To provide a concrete example, we shall consider one aspect of the peripheral nervous system, PNS. As discussed above, the efferent PNS carries information from the CNS to the muscles movement results. 

The central nervous system, CNS, includes both neurons and glial cells. The peripheral nervous system, PNS, has no glial cells. 

Central Nervous System (CNS). The human nervous system is an integrated communication network that sends and receives information throughout the body. This network is divided into two main divisions central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is the command center of this network and is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The PNS is the interface of the nervous system with the rest of the body and the external environment. It is comprised of nerve fibers and small clusters of nerve cells known as ganglia. 

The nervous system is divided into two parts the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. The PNS consists of all afferent (sensory) neurons, which carry nerve impulses into the CNS from sensory end organs in peripheral tissues, and all efferent (motor) neurons, which carry nerve impulses from the CNS to effector cells in peripheral tissues. The peripheral efferent system is further divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The effector cells innervated by the somatic nervous system are skeletal muscle cells. The autonomic nervous system innervates three types of effector cells (1) smooth muscle, (2) cardiac muscle, and (3) exocrine glands. While the somatic nervous system can function on a reflex basis, voluntary control of skeletal muscle is of primary importance. In contrast, in the autonomic nervous system voluntary control can be exerted, but reflex control is paramount. 

The nervous system is conventionally divided into the central nervous system (CNS the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS neuronal tissues outside the CNS). The motor (efferent) portion of the nervous system can be divided into two major subdivisions autonomic and somatic. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is largely independent (autonomous) in that its activities are not under direct conscious control. It is concerned primarily with visceral functions such as cardiac output, blood flow to various organs, and digestion, which are necessary for life. The somatic subdivision is largely concerned with consciously controlled functions such as movement, respiration, and posture. Both systems have important afferent (sensory) inputs that provide information regarding the internal and external environments and modify motor output through reflex arcs of varying size and complexity. 

Anatomically the nervous system is subdivided into the Central Nervous System (CNS), that which is encased in the cranial bone tissue and surrounded by the bone and cartilage, that is, the brain and spinal column, respectively. The function of the CNS is to control and integrate afferent and efferent signals. The network of neurons in the soft tissues of the bodies, impinging on organs and musculature is the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). We will discuss the CNS in more detail later. For now, let us consider the PNS. 

MR are present in, e.g. the central nervous system (CNS, for respiratory and cardiovascular activity, cognition and stress processing), peripheral nervous system (PNS, for smooth muscle contraction, control of heart rate, vasodilatation), as well as the sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglion cells [1], Five metabotropic cholinergic MR subtypes (M1-M5) were identified [1], but selectivity of TA is merely apparent [9] except for tiotropium and ipratropium [31]. 

CNS—brain and spinal cord—and two separate pathways within the peripheral nervous system (PNS) for two-way communication with the peripheral organs. The PNS subdivisions are the somatic and autonomic nervous systems (Figure 11.2). The latter is further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions (Figure 11.3). 

Ionotropic ATP receptors ATP is an excitatory NT in the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). ATP acts via ionotropic, oligomeric P2X receptors that form ATP-gated Na+ and K+ channels which also have a significant permeability for Ca2+. ATP also acts via excitatory, metabotropic, G protein-linked P2Y receptors (see Chapter 5). 

Adenosine 5 -triphosphate is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). ATP acts via ionotropic P2X receptors (Chapter 3) and also acts through metabotropic G protein-linked P2Y receptors. With respect to P2Y receptors 1-13 that have been distinguished, uridine 5 -triphosphate (UTP) and ATP bind to P2Y2 and P2Y4 and ATP also binds to P2Y11. The signalling mechanism involves Gaq-mediated cytosolic Ca2+ elevation. 

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