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What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic.
What type of functions does the autonomic nervous system control?
Involuntary functions.
Which system is responsible for “fight or flight”?
Sympathetic system.
Which system is called “rest and digest”?
Parasympathetic system.
What happens to heart rate in the sympathetic system?
It increases.
What happens to heart rate in the parasympathetic system?
It decreases.
What happens to pupils during sympathetic activation?
They dilate.
Why is the autonomic nervous system called involuntary?
Because it works without conscious control and regulates internal organs automatically.
What happens to digestion during sympathetic activation and why?
It decreases because energy is redirected to muscles.
What happens to digestion during parasympathetic activation?
It increases.
Which neurotransmitter is mainly used in the parasympathetic system?
Acetylcholine.
Which neurotransmitter is mainly used in the sympathetic system?
Norepinephrine.
Where does the sympathetic nervous system originate?
Thoracic and lumbar spinal cord.
Where does the parasympathetic system originate?
Brainstem and sacral region.
A patient has increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and decreased digestion. Which system is activated?
Sympathetic nervous system.
Why do sympathetic and parasympathetic systems have opposite effects?
To maintain balance (homeostasis) in the body.
