Lesson Guide,/ Assessment For Learning (A4L) “Autonomic Nervous System”

Instructions to the learner: Without using any references, quickly answer the questions in the “Assessment For Learning (A4L)” section below. Then, use the resources listed in the “Lesson Sequence” section to help you fill in any missing answers or verify items where you were uncertain. Finally, complete these same questions again at the end of this document as another assessment of your learning. There is a section at the end of this document with suggested answers and notes for the A4L questions—-use this as a guide. The A4L questions are for your use—-your learning is assessed in the classroom or proctored testing environment.

If you are a BCFPD member and desire CEUs for this learning activity, you may schedule a proctored written learning assessment at Fire District Headquarters by contacting Bryant Gladney at . This activity is worth 1 CEU in Preparatory for BLS and 1 CEU in Preparatory for ALS.

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Objectives / Learning Targets:

•Discuss the major divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System and their functions.

•Apply understanding of ANS functions to patient assessment and treatment cases.

Answer these questions without using a reference to test your prior knowledge (these questions are the “Assessment For Learning (A4L)”:

  1. The peripheral nervous system is divided into what two major parts?
  1. The autonomic system is responsible for what functions?
  1. The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are what?
  1. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for what?
  1. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for what?
  1. The parasympathetic nervous system is sometimes called the ______system because of its primary neurotransmitter ______.
  1. Similarly, the sympathetic nervous system is also known as the ______system because of its primary neurotransmitter ______.
  1. Define “agonist” and “antagonist”.
  1. Name a parasympathetic antagonist mentioned in the video lessons that is given IV.
  1. Name a sympathetic agonist mentioned in the video lessons that is given IV.
  1. Describe the effect of alpha 1 receptor stimulation.
  1. Describe the effect of beta 1 receptor stimulation.
  1. Describe the effect of beta 2 receptor stimulation.
  1. Name a medication mentioned in the video lessons that stimulates alpha 1, beta 1 and beta 2.
  1. Define positive chronotrope.
  1. Define positive inotrope.
  1. To get positive chrontropy, would you want a sympathetic agonist, a parasympathetic agonist or a parasympathetic antagonist?
  1. Recall the lesson on hypo-perfusion and the three parts of the cardiovascular system. Assuming that the “volume” is not altered and so we are left with the “pump” and the “container”. Describe how you could improve perfusion by using medications that have either sympathetic or parasympathetic actions.

Lesson Sequence / Steps

Step One: Complete the A4L to determine what material you already understand.

Step Two: Review the video playlist

Go back to the A4L and fill in any gaps in your understanding.

Step Three: (for students in initial EMT or Paramedic classes): Review your textbook materials and take the associated quizzes in the publisher’s online package.

•This lesson is not part of the EMT Course

•Paramedic Chapters 1.30 (Beebe & Myers Professional Paramedic)

Answer the same questions again to test your current knowledge. If you are applying for CEUs for this learning activity, you can anticipate that the material contained in these questions is key information that will be assessed on the proctored written learning assessment that you will take.

  1. The peripheral nervous system is divided into what two major parts?
  1. The autonomic system is responsible for what functions?
  1. The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are what?
  1. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for what?
  1. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for what?
  1. The parasympathetic nervous system is sometimes called the ______system because of its primary neurotransmitter ______.
  1. Similarly, the sympathetic nervous system is also known as the ______system because of its primary neurotransmitter ______.
  1. Define “agonist” and “antagonist”.
  1. Name a parasympathetic antagonist mentioned in the video lessons that is given IV.
  1. Name a sympathetic agonist mentioned in the video lessons that is given IV.
  1. Describe the effect of alpha 1 receptor stimulation.
  1. Describe the effect of beta 1 receptor stimulation.
  1. Describe the effect of beta 2 receptor stimulation.
  1. Name a medication mentioned in the video lessons that stimulates alpha 1, beta 1 and beta 2.
  1. Define positive chronotrope.
  1. Define positive inotrope.
  1. To get positive chrontropy, would you want a sympathetic agonist, a parasympathetic agonist or a parasympathetic antagonist?
  1. Recall the lesson on hypo-perfusion and the three parts of the cardiovascular system. Assuming that the “volume” is not altered and so we are left with the “pump” and the “container”. Describe how you could improve perfusion by using medications that have either sympathetic or parasympathetic actions.

Suggested Answers: AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

  1. The peripheral nervous system is divided into what two major parts?

Somatic and Autonomic

  1. The autonomic system is responsible for what functions?

“Automatic” functions such as heart rate and digestion among many others.

  1. The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are what?

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

  1. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for what?

“Rest and Digest” functions

  1. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for what?

“Fight and Flight”

  1. The parasympathetic nervous system is sometimes called the __cholinergic_ system because of its primary neurotransmitter _acetylcholine_.
  1. Similarly, the sympathetic nervous system is also known as the _adrenergic system because of its primary neurotransmitter norepinephrine .
  1. Define “agonist” and “antagonist”.

Agonists stimulate while antagonists inhibit action.

  1. Name a parasympathetic antagonist mentioned in the video lessons that is given IV.

Atropine

  1. Name a sympathetic agonist mentioned in the video lessons that is given IV.

Epinephrine

  1. Describe the effect of alpha 1 receptor stimulation.

Vasonconstriction

  1. Describe the effect of beta 1 receptor stimulation.

Positive chronotropy and positive isotropy (increased heart rate and stroke volume)

  1. Describe the effect of beta 2 receptor stimulation.

Bronchial dilation

  1. Name a medication mentioned in the video lessons that stimulates alpha 1, beta 1 and beta 2.

Epinephrine

  1. Define positive chronotrope.

Increases heart rate

  1. Define positive inotrope.

Increases strength of ventricular contraction (increased stroke volume)

  1. To get positive chrontropy, would you want a sympathetic agonist, a parasympathetic agonist or a parasympathetic antagonist?

Sympathetic agonist (“push on the gas”) OR a parasympathetic antagonist (“take off brakes”)

  1. Recall the lesson on hypo-perfusion and the three parts of the cardiovascular system. Assuming that the “volume” is not altered and so we are left with the “pump” and the “container”. Describe how you could improve perfusion by using medications that have either sympathetic or parasympathetic actions. Cardiac Output (pump function) can be increased with beta 1 stimulation using a sympathetic agonist or by use of a parasympathetic antagonist. Container size could be reduced (thereby increasing perfusion) by use of an alpha 1 sympathetic agonist.