The ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; and SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM taken together. Generally speaking, the autonomic nervous system regulates the internal environment during both peaceful activity and physical or emotional stress. Autonomic activity is controlled and integrated by the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, especially the HYPOTHALAMUS and the SOLITARY NUCLEUS, which receive information relayed from VISCERAL AFFERENTS.

The part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands.

The part of the nervous system that controls muscles of internal organs (such as the heart, blood vessels, lungs, stomach, and intestines) and glands (such as salivary glands and sweat glands). One part of the autonomic nervous system helps the body rest, relax, and digest food and another part helps a person fight or take flight in an emergency.

Those neurons which regulate the contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle and the secretion of glands, by way of the general visceral efferent component of cranial and spinal nerves; contains two divisions, parasympathetic and sympathetic which provide double innervation to most organs by way of a two-neuron chain, the first neuron has its cell of origin in the brain or spinal cord and the second in an autonomic ganglion.

The autonomic nervous system regulates physiologic processes. Regulation occurs without conscious control, ie, autonomously. The 2 major divisions are the�

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a very complex, multifaceted neural network that maintains internal physiologic homeostasis. This network includes cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU), and ophthalmologic (pupillary) systems.

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...