A student nurse is learning about a medication that affects the autonomic nervous system. When instructing the student about the effects of this medication, the nurse will begin by explaining which basic units of this system?

Question

Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. The preganglionic neuron
2. The postganglionic neuron
3. The synaptic cleft
4. Norepinephrine
5. Dopamine

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1,2,3
Rationale 1: The basic unit of the autonomic nervous system is a two-neuron chain. The first neuron, called the preganglionic neuron, originates in the central nervous system.
Rationale 2: The preganglionic neuron connects with the second nerve in the autonomic nervous system two-neuron chain through the ganglia, which contains the postganglionic neuron.
Rationale 3: Autonomic messages must cross the synaptic cleft.
Rationale 4: Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter released at cholinergic receptors.
Rationale 5: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter within the limbic system and hypothalamus and not the autonomic nervous system.
Global Rationale: The basic unit of the autonomic nervous system is a two-neuron chain. The first neuron, called the preganglionic neuron, originates in the central nervous system. The preganglionic neuron connects with the second nerve in the autonomic nervous system two-neuron chain through the ganglia, which contains the postganglionic neuron. Autonomic messages must cross the synaptic cleft. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter released at cholinergic receptors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter within the limbic system and hypothalamus and not the autonomic nervous system.