Visceral nervous system is a part of the peripheral nervous system. It comprises all the nerves, ganglia and plexuses that relay information to and from the central nervous system and visceral organs.
Human Nervous System
The human nervous system is divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system or CNS comprises the brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes all the nerves from the body that connect to the CNS.
The peripheral nervous system is divided into somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
- Somatic Nervous System – It relays information from CNS to skeletal muscles. It is involved in the voluntary control of body movements. It involves both afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) pathways.
- Autonomic Nervous System – It relays information from CNS to involuntary organs and smooth muscles. It controls the function of visceral organs such as cardiac muscles, smooth muscles, glandular epithelium, etc. It controls the involuntary functions of the body. It only deals with the motor signals from the CNS to regulate involuntary actions of visceral organs.
The autonomic nervous system is further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
What is the Visceral Nervous System?
The visceral nervous system is a part of the peripheral nervous system. It consists of all the nerves that relay information between the CNS and visceral organs.
The sensory signals from various internal organs reach CNS through afferent nerves and elicit responses via efferent autonomic nerves.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is also known as the efferent (motor) visceral nervous system. It controls the autonomic functions of the body such as heart rate, respiration, digestive secretions, sexual arousal, flight to fight responses, reflex actions, such as coughing, vomiting, swallowing, etc.
The autonomic nervous system has two main divisions. They are:
- Sympathetic Nervous System – The sympathetic nervous system is associated with the “fight or flight” responses. It generally activates many organs together to elicit a quick response. It increases heart rate and increases blood flow to skeletal muscles and lungs. It inhibits digestion and peristalsis. It dilates the pupil and allows more light to enter the lens.
- Parasympathetic Nervous System – The parasympathetic system is often linked to the rest and digest responses, which are slowly activated. It promotes the relaxation of muscles back to the normal state. It increases blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, accelerates peristalsis, digestion and absorption of food. It constricts the pupil and contracts the ciliary muscle. It also stimulates sexual arousal.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems mostly have opposite effects, and a balance between both leads to homeostasis.
This was all about the Visceral Nervous System and its functions. Learn more about other related concepts for NEET, only at BYJU’S.
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