AUTONOMIC NS — Drawable Diagram

Reproduce this in exam: two-column outflow, fiber lengths, neurotransmitters, organ effects
⚡ Red = Sympathetic  |  🌊 Blue = Parasympathetic
HYPOTHALAMUS BRAINSTEM / CORD SYMPATHETIC Thoracolumbar T1–L2 IML T1-L2 ACh (short) CHAIN GANGLION NE (long) ADRENAL MEDULLA (ACh→Nicotinic) → Epi 80% + NE 20% ORGAN EFFECTS ♥ HR ↑ (β1) 👁 Mydriasis (α1) 🫁 Bronchodilate (β2) 🩸 Vasoconstrict (α1) GI ↓motility (α2,β2) Bladder relax (β2) ⚠ Sweat = ACh (M) Only exception: sympath BUT muscarinic (not NE) PARASYMPATHETIC Craniosacral CN III, VII, IX, X + S2-S4 pelvic ACh (LONG) GANGLION in/near organ wall ACh (short) ORGAN EFFECTS ♥ HR ↓ (M2) 👁 Miosis (M3) 🫁 Bronchoconstrict (M3) GI ↑motility (M3) Bladder contract (M3) Vagus = 75% of total VAGUS (X) COMPARISON TABLE — Draw This Column FEATURE SYMPATHETIC PARASYMPATHETIC Origin T1-L2 (Thoracolumbar) III,VII,IX,X + S2-S4 Preganglionic SHORT LONG Postganglionic LONG SHORT Ganglion Paravertebral chain In/near organ wall NT at ganglion ACh (Nicotinic) ACh (Nicotinic) NT at organ NE (adrenergic) ACh (muscarinic) Receptors α1,α2,β1,β2 M1,M2,M3 EXCEPTION Sweat glands = ACh (M) Adrenal = ACh (Nic)→Epi Vagus = 75% of output Stops at splenic flexure Symp: SHORT pre → LONG post → NE | Para: LONG pre → SHORT post → ACh | Both use ACh at ganglion TRAP: Sweat = sympathetic BUT muscarinic (ACh). That's why atropine → dry skin.
🧠 5 RETENTION ANCHORS:
1. TL;DR = ThoracoLumbar = Sympathetic. CS = CranioSacral = Calm System
2. Sympathetic: short-long (pre-post). Para: long-short. — "Sympathetic is SHORT-tempered first"
3. Sweat glands = rebel: sympathetic fiber, muscarinic receptor (ACh not NE)
4. Adrenal medulla = modified ganglion. Gets ACh preganglionic → dumps Epi into BLOOD
5. Vagus = 75% of parasympathetic. Heart, lungs, gut to splenic flexure. Below = S2-S4