Question

Briefly describe the role of autonomic nervous system.

Answer 1

Autonomic nervous system:

1. It is a division of the nervous system that deals with non-conscious functions of our body that are not in our control for example - breathing, heart rate, and digestive process.
2. The autonomous nervous system includes a group of ganglia (collection of nerve cells) near the spinal cord.

Divisions of the autonomic nervous system:

1. The sympathetic nervous system which is present in the thoracic and lumbar region of the spinal cord activates during the condition of flight or fight response under stressful situations increasing blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate to support the body in need.
2. The parasympathetic nervous system which originates in the cranial region of the brain and sacral region of the spinal cord is antagonistic to the sympathetic nervous system as it decreases blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate bringing the body to a normal situation after stress.

Hence, the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system plays a role in preparing the body to face stress while the parasympathetic division brings the body back to the normal situation after stress.