autonomic nervous system
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- Biology LibreTexts - Autonomic Nervous System
- MSD manuals - Consumer Version - Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System
- Open Library - Neuroscience: Canadian 1st Edition - The Autonomic Nervous System
- Verywell Health - The Anatomy of the Autonomic Nervous System
- Simply Psychology - Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Division and Functions
- National Library of Medicine - Anatomy, Autonomic Nervous System
- Khan Academy - Autonomic nervous system
- Nature - Autonomic nervous system development and its impact on neuropsychiatric outcome
- Cleveland Clinic - Autonomic Nervous System
- WebMD - Autonomic Nervous System: What to Know
- Key People:
- Walter Rudolf Hess
- On the Web:
- Nature - Autonomic nervous system development and its impact on neuropsychiatric outcome (Apr. 08, 2024)
autonomic nervous system, in vertebrates, the part of the nervous system that controls and regulates the internal organs without any conscious recognition or effort by the organism. The autonomic nervous system comprises two antagonistic sets of nerves, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system connects the internal organs to the brain by spinal nerves. When stimulated, these nerves prepare the organism for stress by increasing the heart rate, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and decreasing blood flow to the skin. The nerve fibres of the parasympathetic nervous system are the cranial nerves, primarily the vagus nerve, and the lumbar spinal nerves. When stimulated, these nerves increase digestive secretions and reduce the heartbeat.