Question

How do sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems control the functioning of the internal organs?

Answer 1

Sympathetic nervous system:

It is a division of the autonomic nervous system present in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord.

Parasympathetic nervous system:

It is a division of the autonomic nervous system present in the cranial region of the brain and the sacral region of the spinal cord.

Control of internal organs:

1. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for stressful conditions or the ‘fight or flight response.
2. The parasympathetic nervous system brings the body back to normal condition after the stressful situation is over.
3. The action of both the nervous systems is opposite to each other.
4. For example - the sympathetic nervous system causes the speeding of the heartbeat while the parasympathetic division slows down the heartbeat.
5. In the case of the digestive system, the sympathetic division slows down digestion by supplying more blood to the skeletal muscles while the parasympathetic division increases digestion.

Hence, the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions work in an opposite manner to control the internal organs.