Neurohumoral Transmission (Autonomic and Somatic)

The nervous system starts in our brain and then moves along all the nerves in the body. It helps regulate your emotions, thoughts, and automatic responses to the environment. There are several other body functions and processes that need the help of the nervous systems, such as digestion, respiration, and sexual development. The body’s nervous system can also be harmed by severe damage to the brain, or by some diseases. This article will talk about the skeletal muscle, primary nerve, and its functions. 

Neurohumoral Transmission

The process of neurohumoral transmission is about the release of humoral (chemical) substances during the process of an impulse. This process happens through a synapse and neuro-effector junction. The process by which these impulses travel with an axon or muscle fibre is referred to as ‘conduction.’ There are so many clinically utilised autonomic medications that alter these pharmacological effects by modifying critical phases in the neurohumoral transmission mechanism.

Noradrenaline (NA or norepinephrine, NE) and acetylcholine (ACh) are some of the primary neurotransmitters that help in these processes from postganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve ends. But, acetylcholine is the transmitter that is released in ganglia from preganglionic nerve endings of both systems.

Define the Nervous System

Every sense organ in the human body is part of the nervous system. The nervous system helps regulate complex functions, such as body movement, cognition, and memory. This system is also necessary for actions like breathing, blinking, impulse reactions, etc. 

Nerves affect the following functions: 

• Feelings, memories, learning, and thoughts

• Balance and coordination 

• Ability to see, hear, taste, touch, and feel

• Sleeping, healing, and the ageing process

• Breathing patterns and heartbeat

• Impulse response

• Appetite, thirst, and digestion 

This system is one of the intricate parts of a skeletal system and a body’s command centre. It keeps the human body’s systems in check and allows every movement without interruptions. 

Different Categories of Nervous Systems

The nervous system is divided into millions of neurons or nerve cells used to transmit signals. These cells help in sending and receiving electrical impulses. Our nervous system has two important components:

1. Central Nervous System (CNS)

This system comprises the brain and spinal cord, which is why it is called the central nervous system. Peripheral nerves outside the CNS help all the nerves in your brain communicate with the rest of your body. Every nerve in this system is coated with a protective layer, called myelin. Myelin helps in protecting the nerve and allows messages to pass through.

2. Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral nerves are located outside CNS, which is outside the brain and the spinal. This system is composed of nerves that branch out from your central nervous system all over your body. The brain and spinal cord send information to your organs such as arms, legs, fingers, and toes through this system. 

The peripheral nervous system is further divided into two parts:

• Somatic Nervous System: It guides all the voluntary motions and actions

• Autonomic Nervous System: This system is in charge of involuntary activities

Autonomic Nervous System

This part of the nervous system is involuntary and controls all the impulse reactions. As the autonomic nervous system is a visceral efferent system, it can send motor impulses to the visceral organs. This nervous system consists of innervated smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands that work automatically and constantly without conscious effort. 

Functions like heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, body temperature, and other visceral processes are all portions of this nervous system. In this system, neurohumoral transmission happens when a nerve impulse transfers from a presynaptic to a postsynaptic neuron through neurohumoral agents, such as amino acids or peptides. 

Somatic Nervous System

The somatic nervous system is called the voluntary nervous system. The system comprises afferent nerves, which send the information to the brain and spinal cord. The different nerves that help in the transfer send the data into the brain. 

The somatic nervous system has all the sensory neurons that inform the central nervous system about the five senses. It also has motor neurons responsible for voluntary movements like running. In the somatic nervous system, the neurohumoral transmission happens via acetylcholine. 

Conclusion 

The nervous system is important for transmitting signals from one part of the body to another. It is divided into two main components, which are further divided into subsections. The main function of the peripheral nervous system is to connect with the central nervous system of our body. The extensions of neurons form these nerves in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord, brain stem (cranial nerves), or sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia (autonomic nerves). The two types of peripheral nervous systems are somatic and autonomic.