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The heart is innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres from the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system. The network of nerves supplying the heart is called the cardiac plexus. The cardiac plexus is a network of nerves including both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic nervous system controls heart function during stresses, and the neurogenic control of the heart spans from the maintenance of housekeeping. The heart is abundantly innervated, and its performance is tightly controlled by both sympathetic and parasympathetic efferent nerves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The innervation of the heart refers to the network of nerves that are responsible for the functioning of the heart. |
| Nerves Involved | Sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres from the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system. |
| Network of Nerves | Cardiac plexus |
| Parts of the Cardiac Plexus | Sympathetic and parasympathetic systems |
| Parasympathetic Innervation | Responsible for reducing the heart rate |
| Sympathetic Innervation | Dense around the sinus node and coronary sinus |
| Postganglionic Sympathetic Fibres | Synapse directly onto the myocardium |
| Neurotransmitter | Acetylcholine |
| Role of NGF | Plays an essential role in guiding cardiac sympathetic nerve growth, survival, and innervation patterning |
| Role of GDNF | Functions in parasympathetic and sympathetic cardiac innervation |
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What You'll Learn
- The cardiac plexus is a network of nerves including sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
- The sympathetic nervous system controls heart function during stress
- Parasympathetic innervation is derived from the cranial NCCs
- The cardiac nerves intricately modulate the heart's physiological functions
- The neurogenic control of the heart spans from the maintenance of housekeeping
The cardiac plexus is a network of nerves including sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
The cardiac plexus is a network of nerves situated at the base of the heart, formed by cardiac branches derived from both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system controls heart function during stress. It is responsible for increasing heart rate, and injury to the sympathetic fibres contributing to the cardiac plexus can reduce the ability to increase heart rate, causing bradycardia. The sympathetic part of the cardiac plexus is composed of fibres from the sympathetic trunk, arising from the upper segments of the thoracic spinal cord. Fibres from the sympathetic trunk reach the cardiac plexus via cardiac nerves.
The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for reducing the heart rate. Damage to the vagus nerves, which provide the parasympathetic innervation of the heart, will affect the ability to decrease the heart rate, leading to tachycardia. The parasympathetic portions of the cardiac plexus receive contributions from the vagus nerve only. The preganglionic fibres, branching from the right and left vagus nerves, reach the heart and enter the cardiac plexus by synapsing with ganglia within this plexus and the walls of the atria.
The cardiac plexus is split into two parts: the superficial part and the deep part. The superficial part lies beneath the aortic arch and anterior to the right pulmonary artery. It is formed by the superior cervical cardiac branch of the left sympathetic trunk and the lower superior cervical cardiac branch of the left vagus trunk. The deep part is located posterior to the aortic arch and anterior to the tracheal bifurcation. It is formed by the cardiac nerves derived from the superior, middle and inferior cervical ganglia of the sympathetic trunk, as well as the cardiac branches of the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves.
The cardiac plexus plays a crucial role in the functioning of the heart, with sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres influencing heart rate, cardiac output, and contraction forces of the heart.
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The sympathetic nervous system controls heart function during stress
The human heart is innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres from the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system. The network of nerves supplying the heart is called the cardiac plexus. The sympathetic part of the cardiac plexus is composed of fibres from the sympathetic trunk, arising from the upper segments of the thoracic spinal cord.
The sympathetic nervous system is a network of nerves that helps the body activate its "fight-or-flight" response. This system's activity increases when an individual is stressed, in danger, or physically active. Its effects include increasing the heart rate, improving eyesight, and slowing down processes like digestion. The sympathetic nervous system controls the human body's reaction to situations of stress or emergency.
When an individual is stressed, their sympathetic nervous system activates to speed up their heart rate and deliver more blood to areas of their body that need more oxygen or other responses to help them get out of danger. The sympathetic nervous system also increases the force and frequency of heart contractions to rapidly increase blood pressure.
The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is generally responsible for basal organ system function and helps to control the body's response during times of rest. It lowers the heart rate and the pumping force of the heart. It also increases the rate of digestion and diverts energy to help digest food.
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Parasympathetic innervation is derived from the cranial NCCs
The heart is innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres from the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system. Parasympathetic innervation is derived from the cranial neural crest cells (NCCs) as they migrate through somites, which eventually form the parasympathetic ganglia when they reach the heart.
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is one of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the other being the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The ANS controls and regulates the functions of the visceral organs, smooth and cardiac muscles, and glands without any conscious effort, and is thus referred to as involuntary. The PNS forms from cranial and sacral neural crest cells. The cranial neural crest cells become postganglionic neurons and glia within the head, thorax, and abdomen ganglia. The main longitudinal cardiac nerves are joined at intervals by branches of 10 or 11 segmental nerves originating from the ventral ganglia.
The PNS specifically provides excitatory signals to the vas deferens, seminal vesicles, and prostate. In the heart, parasympathetic stimulation of M2 receptors causes a decreased heart rate and conduction velocity through the AV node. The vagus nerve (CN X) is a significant component of the PNS, carrying 75% of all parasympathetic fibres. The oculomotor nerve (CN III), the facial nerve (CN VII), the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), and the vagus nerve (CN X) are all cranial nerves that carry the cranial parasympathetic outflow. The presynaptic parasympathetic neurons that innervate the viscera of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis lie within the gray horn of the sacral segments (S2-S4) of the spinal cord.
The sympathetic part of the cardiac plexus is composed of fibres from the sympathetic trunk, arising from the upper segments of the thoracic spinal cord. Fibres from the sympathetic trunk reach the cardiac plexus via cardiac nerves. The sympathetic nervous system controls heart function during stressful situations, driving the "fight or flight" response.
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The cardiac nerves intricately modulate the heart's physiological functions
The cardiac plexus is a network of nerves that intricately modulate the heart's physiological functions. It is composed of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves from the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system. These nerves work together to regulate cardiac function, with sympathetic nerves increasing heart rate and contractility, and parasympathetic nerves decreasing heart rate.
The sympathetic part of the cardiac plexus arises from the upper segments of the thoracic spinal cord, with preganglionic fibres branching from the right and left vagus nerves to reach the heart. On the other hand, the parasympathetic fibres of the cardiac plexus synapse directly at the ganglia on the heart, with the right vagus nerve predominantly influencing the SA node and the left vagus nerve having a greater effect on AV node conduction. This selective innervation helps to efficiently modulate cardiac output.
The cardiac nerves receive sensory inputs from the heart, blood vessels, and other organs, ensuring adequate cardiac function on a beat-to-beat basis. This inter-organ crosstalk is critical for the normal function of the heart and other organs. The sympathetic nervous system is fast-acting and primarily modulated by mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors, while the parasympathetic nervous system is derived from the cranial neural crest cells that migrate through somites to form the parasympathetic ganglia.
The cardiac nerves also play a role in the maintenance of housekeeping and the neurogenic control of the heart during stresses. For example, under stress, the entire heart muscle undergoes changes in inotropy simultaneously, and neuronal activation must initiate cardiac activation to rapidly increase blood pressure through stimulation of the force and frequency of heart contractions. Additionally, the cardiac nerves are involved in the differentiation of neural crest cells into cardiac nerves and the secretion of factors that induce transcriptional changes in NCCs and their differentiation into sympathetic nerves.
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The neurogenic control of the heart spans from the maintenance of housekeeping
The human heart is a complex organ that serves as a pump to circulate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood throughout the body. To perform this vital function, the heart must contract and relax in a rhythmic manner, maintaining a regular heartbeat throughout an individual's life. The heart's function is regulated by a combination of neural, hormonal, and intrinsic factors, ensuring a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells.
The neurogenic control of the heart, also known as cardiac sympathetic innervation, plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiac function. This control spans from the routine maintenance of housekeeping functions during resting conditions to the mobilisation of maximal performance during stressful situations, invoking the body's fight-or-flight response. The sympathetic nervous system, a key component of neurogenic control, integrates peripheral and central inputs and communicates with the heart via motor neurons, directly influencing cardiomyocytes, the heart's muscle cells.
The cardiac plexus, a network of nerves, is responsible for innervating the heart. It comprises both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, each contributing distinct functions. The sympathetic nervous system, often associated with stress responses, increases heart rate and contractility, preparing the body for action. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system, derived from cranial neural crest cells, acts to reduce the heart rate and promote relaxation.
The intricate interplay between these systems ensures the heart's ability to respond to varying demands. For instance, during stressful events, the sympathetic nervous system dominates, increasing the heart rate and blood pressure to enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues. Conversely, during rest, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes more prominent, lowering the heart rate and promoting a state of calm.
Additionally, the heart possesses an intrinsic conduction system, an internal regulatory mechanism. This system includes the sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right atrium, which acts as a natural pacemaker, generating electrical impulses that coordinate the heart's contractions. The SA node works in conjunction with the neurogenic control systems to fine-tune the heart's performance, ensuring a balanced and adequate response to the body's needs.
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Frequently asked questions
Cardiac muscle, also known as heart muscle or myocardium, is one of three types of vertebrate muscle tissues, the others being skeletal muscle and smooth muscle. It is an involuntary, striated muscle that constitutes the main tissue of the wall of the heart.
Innervation refers to the network of nerves that are responsible for the functioning of the heart.
The heart is innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres from the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system. The network of nerves supplying the heart is called the cardiac plexus.
The cardiac plexus is a network of nerves including both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. It is split into two parts. The sympathetic part of the cardiac plexus is composed of fibres from the sympathetic trunk, arising from the upper segments of the thoracic spinal cord.
Innervation intricately modulates nearly all physiological functions of the heart, including chronotropy, dromotropy, lusitropy, and inotropy.
