Fight or flight: The sympathetic nervous system The sympathetic nervous system makes up part of the autonomic nervous system, also known as the involuntary nervous system. Without conscious direction, the autonomic nervous system regulates important bodily functions such as 1. heart rate, 2. blood pressure, 3. pupil dilation, 4. body temperature, 5. sweating and 6. digestion, Research suggests that distinct types of nerve cells, called neurons, control these different physical reactions by directing the action of skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and gland secretion. The system allows animals to make quick internal adjustments and react without having to think about it. The sympathetic nervous system directs the body's rapid involuntary response to dangerous or stressful situations. A flash flood of hormones boosts th...
The autonomic nervous system ( ANS ), formerly the vegetative nervous system , is a division of the peripheral nervous system that supplies smooth muscle and glands, and thus influences the function of internal organs . The autonomic nervous system is a control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions such as the heart rate , digestion , respiratory rate , pupillary response , urination , and sexual arousal . This system is the primary mechanism in control of the fight-or-flight response . Within the brain, the autonomic nervous system is regulated by the hypothalamus . Autonomic functions include control of respiration , cardiac regulation (the cardiac control center), vasomotor activity (the vasomotor center ), and certain reflex actions such as coughing , sneezing , swallowing and vom...