autonomic nervous system

American  

noun

1. the system of nerves and ganglia that innervates the blood vessels, heart, smooth muscles, viscera, and glands and controls their involuntary functions, consisting of sympathetic and parasympathetic portions.

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autonomic nervous system British  

noun

1. the section of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls the involuntary actions of the smooth muscles, heart, and glands. It has two divisions: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic Compare somatic nervous system

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autonomic nervous system Scientific  

/ ô′tə-nŏm′ĭk /

1. The part of the vertebrate nervous system that regulates involuntary activity in the body by transmitting motor impulses to cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and the glands. The muscular activity of the heart and of the circulatory, digestive, respiratory, and urogenital systems is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

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autonomic nervous system Cultural  

1. The part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions of the body (those not controlled consciously), such as digestion, the beating of the heart, and the operation of glands in the endocrine system.

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Etymology

Origin of autonomic nervous system

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Several other doctors have since told him that gabapentin is likely the cause of his condition, including a neuropsychiatrist who diagnosed him with severe dysautonomia, or impairment of the autonomic nervous system.

From The Wall Street Journal

It's part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls things we don't think about, like breathing, heart rate and digestion.

From BBC

When you see green trees, smell pine and hear gentle rustling leaves or the sound of birdsong, your autonomic nervous system - a network of nerves controlling unconscious processes - responds instantly.

From BBC

The heart has long been thought to be controlled solely by the autonomic nervous system, which transmits signals from the brain.

From Science Daily

"While these represent early results, they provide hope that there may be novel targets, such as the autonomic nervous system, for modifying the disease course of HD."

From Science Daily