Receptors of ANS

The receptors on the target sites of ANS are named cholinergic and adrenergic, corresponding to the neurotransmitters involved: acetylcholine and noradrenaline.

A. Cholinergic Receptors

Receptor TypeSubtypeTarget/Location
Muscarinic (M)M1Stomach (neurons of parietal cells; HCl secretion)
 M2Heart
 M3Smooth muscle (GI, bronchi, and genito-urinary tract); Smooth muscle of blood vessels and exocrine glands
Nicotinic (N)Nn (or N-I)Autonomic ganglia
 Nm (or N-II)Skeletal muscle (Motor end-plate)

B. Adrenergic Receptors

Receptor TypeSubtypeTarget/Location
Alpha Α1Smooth muscle (GI, bronchi, and genito-urinary tract); Smooth muscle of most blood vessels
 A2CNS (vasomotor center), presynaptic, negative feed-back
Betaß1Heart
 ß2Some blood vessels (skeletal muscle), bronchi, and uterus