Table of Contents
- The Autonomic Nervous System
- What Is the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System?
- Difference between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Conclusion
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system controls specific body processes, such as blood circulation, digestion, breathing, urination, heartbeat, etc. The autonomicnervous system is named so because it works autonomously, i.e., without a person’s conscious effort.
The primary function of the autonomic nervous system is homeostasis. Apart from maintaining the body’s internal environment, it is also involved in controlling and maintaining the following life processes:
- Digestion
- Metabolism
- Urination
- Defecation
- Blood pressure
- Sexual response
- Body temperature
- Heartbeat
- Breathing rate
- Fluid balance
There are two types of the autonomic nervous system:
- Sympathetic autonomic nervoussystem
- Parasympathetic autonomic nervoussystem
What Is the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System?
SympatheticAutonomic Nervous System: Itis the part of the autonomic nervous system located near the thoracic and lumbar regionsin the spinal cord. Its primary function is to stimulate the body’s fight-or-flight response. It does this by regulating the heart rate, rate of respiration, pupillary response and more.
ParasympatheticAutonomic Nervous System: Itis located in between the spinal cord and the medulla. It primarily stimulates the body’s “rest and digest” and “feed and breed” responses.
More to Read:Human Nervous System
Read on to explore more differences between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Difference between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for the “fight or flight” response during any potential danger.On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system inhibits the body from overworking and restores the body to a calm and composed state.The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are differentiated based on how the body responds to environmental stimuli.
The major differences between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are summarised below:
| Sympathetic | Parasympathetic |
| Involved in the fight or flight response. | Involved in maintaining homeostasis and also, permits the rest and digest response. |
| The sympathetic system prepares the body for any potential danger. | The parasympathetic system aims to bring the body to a state of calm. |
| Sympathetic system has shorter neuron pathways, hence a faster response time. | Has comparatively longer neuron pathways, hence a slower response time. |
| Increases heartbeat, muscles tense up. | Reduces heartbeat, muscles relaxes. |
| The pupil dilates to let in more light. | The pupil contracts. |
| Saliva secretion is inhibited. | Saliva secretion increases, and digestion increases. |
| In “fight and flight” situations, Adrenaline is released by the adrenal glands; more glycogen is converted to glucose. | No such functions exist in “fight or flight” situations. |
Conclusion
The autonomic nervous system comprises two parts- the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system activates the fight or flight response during a threat or perceived danger, and the parasympathetic nervous system restores the body to a state of calm.
Learn more about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, or other related topics atBYJU’S Biology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1
What is the major difference between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems?
The parasympathetic nervous system restores the body to a calm and composed state and prevents it from overworking. The sympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, prepares the body for fight and flight response.
Q2
What are the hormones released by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?
- The sympathetic nervous system releases the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine that accelerate the heart rate.
- The parasympathetic nervous system releases acetylcholine, the hormone that slows down the heart rate.
Q3
What actions are controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system?
Salivation, urination, lacrimation, defecation and digestion are the important body activities stimulated by the parasympathetic nervous system.
Q4
What are parasympathetic ganglia?
These are the autonomic ganglia of the parasympathetic nervous system that lie near or within the organs they innervate.
Q5
What is the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system composed of?
The parasympathetic nervous system is composed of cranial and spinal nerves. The sympathetic nervous system comprises cell bodies that lie within the grey column of the spinal cord.
