Autonomic Nervous System: Visceral Efferent Nerve Pathways: Canine Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

This Canine Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) website focuses on visceral efferent nerve pathways that innervate smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands in the dog. The phrase Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) can be used in three contexts: 1 ANS refers to Visceral Efferent (VE) innervation of viscera, i.e., the two-neuron peripheral pathway from the central nervous system to visceral organs.   This is the original anatomical definition and it is a major focus of this web site, i.e., identifying VE pathways to viscera located in different regions of the body; 2 ANS refers to General Visceral Afferent (GVA) as well as Visceral Efferent (VE) peripheral innervation of viscera and to visceral reflexes.   Visceral efferent and afferent axons both use the same peripheral nerve pathways, and both are necessary for visceral organ function.   In this website, visceral reflexes are included under Physiological Features; 3 ANS refers to visceral peripheral innervation and reflexes plus selected brain components that influence viscera, such as hypothalamus.   Brain control of visceral organs is less thoroughly understood than peripheral innervation of viscera.   It is presented only superficially in this website. This website is divided into General ANS Features; Sympathetic Division; Parasympathetic Division; Trace Pathways and Physiological Features.

Comments & References:
The Veterinary Anatomy website at the University of Minnesota has been redesigned. Please check the homepage for more information on the availability of this product.

Price: Free of charge