Sympathetic and Parasymphatetic Nervous System

Nervous System
Sympathetic and parasympathetic sympathetic nervous systems belong to the autonomic nervous
system (ANS) in animals. The ANS controls involuntary or reflex functions in the body, including the
regulation of the functions of internal organs such as the heart, stomach, and intestine. The sympathetic
nervous system originates from the cranial, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord. The
parasympathetic nervous system originates from the cranial and sacral regions of the spinal cord.
A. Differentiate parasympathetic from sympathetic nervous system according to their;
a.1 Function
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Accelerates the heart rate, constrict blood vessels, Slows the heart rate, increase intestinal and
and raise blood pressure glandular activity, and relax the sphincter muscles
Prepares the body for an intense physiological Relaxes the body by inhibiting high energy
activity function
Action is a quick response Action is a slow response
Generates a diffused effect at its target area Generates a localized effect at its target area
Norepinepherine is released at the effector Acetylcholine is released at the effector
Raises the sensory awareness Restores sensory awareness to the normal level
Dilates the pupil of the eye and inhibits the saliva Stimulates the pupil of the eye and the secretion
secretion of saliva
Releases adrenaline from adrenaline glands Have no action on the adrenaline glands
Increases the activity of the digestive system Decreases the activity of the digestive system
Increases the rate of the glycogen breakdown Has no effect on the glycogen breakdown
Decreases the urinary output and contracts the Increases the urinary output and release of the
rectum rectum
.
a.2 Organs they control
The autonomic nervous system innervates smooth and cardiac muscles— involuntary motion.
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that supplies the internal organs,
including the blood vessels, stomach, intestine, liver, kidneys, bladder, genitals, lungs, pupils, heart, and
sweat, salivary, and digestive glands.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system actually serves the same parts of the body (
but they have opposing roles. The parasympathetic is for rest and digest actions, and with other
maintenance actions that occur best in the state of relaxation. The sympathetic division on the other hand,
springs into action in emergency situations, enacting the fight-or-flight instinct, all actions that help an
organism evade danger.
Parasympathetic fibers originate in the brain and sacral region of the spinal cord, which are the
opposite ends of the CNS, whereas sympathetic fibers originate in between, in the thoracic region and
lumbar regions of the spinal cord.
a.3 Neurotransmitter the stimulate them
There are 2 neurons that combine to link each effector organ with its respective sympathetic or
parasympathetic system. The first neuron is called the preganglionic neuron, and the second is the
postganglionic neuron. These neurons synapse together in the autonomic ganglia. Both sympathetic and
parasympathetic preganglionic neurons are cholinergic, meaning they release acetylcholine (Ach) at the
synapse in the ganglion. In the parasympathetic system, postganglionic neurons are also cholinergic.
However in the sympathetic system, postganglionic are not all the same. Most sympathetic postganglionic
neurons are adrenergic (meaning they release norepinephrine (NE)), but a few are cholinergic- such as the
ones to sweat glands and to smooth muscles of certain blood vessels. In the cholinergic synapse, released
acetylcholine is degraded down by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, or reabsorbed into the preganglionic
neuron. In the adrenergic synapse, released norepinephrine is either reabsorbed into the preganglionic
neuron or degraded by catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) enzyme.
B. Why is autonomic nervous system divided into two parts?
The autonomic nervous system regulates many of the internal organs through a balance of two
aspects, or divisions. In addition to the endocrine system, the autonomic nervous system is instrumental in
homeostatic mechanisms in the body. The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are the
sympathetic division and the parasympathetic division. The sympathetic system is associated with the
fight-or-flight response, and parasympathetic activity is referred to by the epithet of rest and digest.
Homeostasis is the balance between the two systems. At each target effector, dual innervation determines
activity. For example, the heart receives connections from both the sympathetic and parasympathetic
divisions. One causes heart rate to increase, whereas the other causes heart rate to decrease.

Sympathetic and Parasymphatetic Nervous System

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Nervous System

A. Differentiate parasympathetic from sympathetic nervous system according to their;

a.2 Organs they control

a.3 Neurotransmitter the stimulate them

B. Why is autonomic nervous system divided into two parts?

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