How Is It That Norepinephrine (NE) Can Inhibit Smooth Muscle

question 25

Essay

How is it that norepinephrine (NE) can inhibit smooth muscle action in airways, yet stimulate contractions in smooth muscles everywhere else in the body?

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Definitions:

Involuntary Reaction

A response to a stimulus that occurs automatically without conscious intent or control.

Unrelated Stimulus

A stimulus that has no connection or relevance to the task at hand or to another specified stimulus.

Reinforcement

A concept in behaviorism that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated through positive or negative stimuli.

Learned Reflexive Response

A behavior that is developed over time through conditioning, in which a stimulus automatically elicits a response.