Ch. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order Functions

Martini - Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology 11th Edition

Martini, Nath, Bartholomew11th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874089Not the one you use?Change textbook

Martini, Nath, Bartholomew 11th Edition

Ch. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order Functions

Problem 25

Chapter 16, Problem 25

A possible side effect of a drug used to open the airways of someone suffering from an asthma attack is
(a) Decreased activity of the digestive system
(b) Diarrhea
(c) Profuse urination
(d) Increased blood pressure
(e) Decreased heart rate

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the mechanism of action of drugs used to open airways in asthma. These drugs are typically bronchodilators, such as beta-2 adrenergic agonists, which stimulate beta-2 receptors in the smooth muscle of the airways causing relaxation and dilation.

Step 2: Recognize that beta-2 adrenergic receptors are primarily found in the lungs but can also be present in other tissues, including blood vessels and the heart, which can lead to systemic effects.

Step 3: Consider the systemic effects of beta-2 agonists: stimulation of beta-2 receptors can cause vasodilation, but also may indirectly increase heart rate (a reflex tachycardia) and increase blood pressure due to increased cardiac output.

Step 4: Evaluate each option in the context of these effects: (a) decreased digestive activity is more related to parasympathetic inhibition, (b) diarrhea is increased digestive motility, (c) profuse urination is related to kidney function, (d) increased blood pressure can result from increased cardiac output, and (e) decreased heart rate is unlikely because beta-2 agonists tend to increase heart rate.

Step 5: Conclude that the most plausible side effect among the options, based on the pharmacology of bronchodilators, is increased blood pressure due to their cardiovascular effects.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Mechanism of Bronchodilators in Asthma Treatment

Bronchodilators are drugs that relax the muscles around the airways, helping to open them and ease breathing during an asthma attack. They often act on beta-2 adrenergic receptors, causing smooth muscle relaxation in the lungs but can also affect other systems due to receptor distribution.

Systemic Side Effects of Beta-2 Agonists

Beta-2 agonists, commonly used bronchodilators, can cause side effects beyond the lungs, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, because they may stimulate beta receptors in the heart and blood vessels. Understanding these systemic effects is key to predicting possible side effects.

Autonomic Nervous System and Drug Effects

The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary body functions, including heart rate, digestion, and urination. Drugs affecting adrenergic receptors can alter these functions, leading to side effects like increased blood pressure or changes in digestive activity.

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Somatic vs. Autonomic Nervous System

Related Practice

Textbook Question

Under which of the following circumstances would the diameter of peripheral blood vessels be greatest?

(a) Increased sympathetic stimulation

(b) Decreased sympathetic stimulation

(d) Decreased parasympathetic stimulation

(e) Both increased parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulation

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Textbook Question

Why does sympathetic function remain intact even when the anterior roots of the cervical spinal nerves are damaged?

660

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Textbook Question

Nicotine stimulates cholinergic receptors of the ANS. Based on this information, how would cigarette smoking affect the cardiovascular system?

700

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Textbook Question

You are home alone at night when you hear what sounds like breaking glass. What physiological effects would this experience probably produce, and what would be their cause?

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Textbook Question

During sympathetic stimulation, a person may begin to feel 'on edge'; this is the result of

(a) Increased energy metabolism by muscle tissue

(b) Increased cardiovascular activity

(d) Temporary insensitivity to painful stimuli

(e) Decreased levels of epinephrine in the blood

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Textbook Question

Why is autonomic tone a significant part of ANS function?