AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

• WHAT DOES THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM DO?

  controls involuntary activities of internal muscles/ glands
• WHAT ARE THE TWO SUBDIVISIONS OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM?

  sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
• WHAT DOES THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM DO?

  stimulates effectors, which speeds up any activity

  -> helps to cope with stressful situations (fight/ flight response)
• WHAT DOES THE PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM DO?

  inhibits effectors which slows down any activity

  -> conserves energy and replenishes reserves
• WHAT ARE THE SYMPATHETIC AND PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEMS IN RELATION TO EACH OTHER?

  antagonistic (one contracts a system, the other relaxes a system)