Question

Write briefly about the following:
(a) Role of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in the body.

Answer 1

Sympathetic nervous system:

1. It is a division of the autonomic nervous system, present in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord,
2. It is activated when the body is facing any stressful situations creating a ‘fight or flight response.
3. It prepares the body against stress by increasing heartbeat, dilating the pupil, slowing down digestion, increasing breathing, etc.

Parasympathetic nervous system:

1. It is a division of the autonomic nervous system that originates in the cranial region of the brain and sacral region of the spinal cord.
2. It helps in bringing back the body to its normal condition after encountering a stressful situation.
3. It is antagonistic (opposite) to the sympathetic nervous system as it decreases blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate.

Hence, the sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for stressful situations while the parasympathetic nervous system brings back the body to normal conditions after encountering a stressful situation.