In this Section:
3. Drugs affecting cholinergic synapses
3.1. Drugs affecting muscarinic and nicotinic cholinoceptors
3.2. Anticholinesterase drugs
3.3. Drugs affecting muscarinic cholinoceptors
3.4. Drugs affecting nicotinic cholinoceptors
4. Drugs affecting adrenergic synapses
4.1. Drugs stimulating adrenoceptors (adrenomimetics)
4.2. Drugs blocking adrenoceptors (adrenoceptor antagonists)
4.3. Drugs of presynaptic action
Efferent innervation of the body occurs via autonomic nerves (innervating visceral organs, blood vessels and glands) and motor nerves of skeletal muscles.
Autonomic innervation is subdivided into cholinergic, or parasympathetic (acetylcholine neurotransmitter) and adrenergic, or sympathetic (norepinephrine neurotransmitter), depending on the neurotransmitter that is released in the neuroeffector synapses.
The efferent pathways of the autonomic nerves consist of two neurons: preganglionic and ganglionic (postganglionic). The bodies of preganglionic neurons in the cholinergic system have craniosacral localization (Fig. 2.2). Cranial nuclei are located in the midbrain and medulla oblongata. Cholinergic fibers are inside the pairs of the following cranial nerves: III (n. oculomotorius), VII (n. facialis), IX (n. glossopharyngeus) and X (n. vagus). In the sacral part preganglionic neurons originate from the lateral horns of the spinal cord gray substance.
In the adrenergic system, the bodies of preganglionic neurons are mainly located in the lateral horns of the thoracolumbar part (C8, Th1-L3) of the spinal cord.
Axons of preganglionic cholinergic and adrenergic neurons terminate at the autonomic ganglia in the synaptic contacts with ganglionic neurons. Sympathetic ganglia are located outside