Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow the Autonomic Nervous System WorksAutonomic Nervous System FunctionsAutonomic DisordersSymptoms of Autonomic DisordersDiagnosis and Treatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How the Autonomic Nervous System Works

Autonomic Nervous System Functions

Autonomic Disorders

Symptoms of Autonomic Disorders

Diagnosis and Treatment

Close

The autonomic nervous system is a network of nerves that regulates unconscious body processes. The autonomic system is the part of theperipheral nervous systemresponsible for regulating involuntary body functions, such as heartbeat, blood flow, breathing, and digestion.

This system is further divided into three branches: the sympathetic system, the parasympathetic system, and the enteric nervous system.

Traditionally, stimulation has been thought to take place through the sympathetic system, while inhibition was thought to occur via the parasympathetic system. However many exceptions to this have been found.

Today, the sympathetic system is viewed as a quickly responding system that mobilizes the body for action where the parasympathetic system is believed to act much more slowly to dampen responses.

For example, the sympathetic nervous system will act to raise blood pressure while the parasympathetic nervous system will act to lower it. The two systems work in conjunction to manage the body’s responses depending upon the situation and need.

If, for example, you are facing a threat and need to flee, the sympathetic system will quickly mobilize your body to take action. Once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic system will then start to dampen these responses, slowly returning your body to its normal, resting state.

Neurotransmitters in the Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nerve pathways connect different organs to the brain stem or spinal cord. There are also two key neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, that are important for communication within the autonomic nervous system:

When the parasympathetic and sympathetic components of the autonomic nervous systems become out of sync, people can experience an autonomic disorder, also called dysautonomia.

There are numerous types of autonomic disorders, each with its own unique set of symptoms, including:

Recap

If you or someone you love is experiencing disruptions in the autonomic nervous system, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms. Some people experience one cluster of symptoms at one time, and another set of symptoms at other times.

Diagnosis of an autonomic disorder requires a doctor’s evaluation, which may include a physical examination, recording blood pressure when the patient is both lying down and standing, testing of the sweat response, and an electrocardiogram. Diagnosing an autonomic disorder is often tricky since both the physical exam and laboratory tests can come back normal.

If you suspect that you might have some type of autonomic disorder, it’s important to find a healthcare provider who doesn’t dismiss your symptoms as “all in your head,” and who is willing to take the prolonged trial-and-error to diagnose and treat your condition.

There is currently no “cure,” however, depending on the type of autonomic disorder, there are ways to treat the symptoms.

Strategies that can help prevent autonomicnervous system conditionsinclude:

A Word From Verywell

The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the human body, controlling many of the body’s automatic processes. This system also helps prepare the body to cope with stress and threats, as well as returning the body to a resting state afterward.

Learning more about this part of the nervous system can give you a better understanding of the processes that underlie many human behaviors and responses.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bankenahally R, Krovvidi H.Autonomic nervous system: anatomy, physiology, and relevance in anaesthesia and critical care medicine.BJA Education.2016;16(11):381-387. doi:10.1093/bjaed/mkw011McCorry LK.Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System.Am J Pharm Educ. 2007;71(4):78. doi:10.5688/aj710478Kreibig SD.Autonomic nervous system activity in emotion: A review.Biol Psychol.2010;84(3):394-421. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.03.010National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dysautonomia Information Page.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple system atrophy fact sheet.National Center for Advanced Translational Sciences.Pure autonomic failure.Additional ReadingJänig W.Autonomic Nervous System.Human Physiology.Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg; 1989. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-73831-9_16.Straub, RO.Health Psychology: A Biopsychosocial Approach.New York: Macmillian, 2016.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bankenahally R, Krovvidi H.Autonomic nervous system: anatomy, physiology, and relevance in anaesthesia and critical care medicine.BJA Education.2016;16(11):381-387. doi:10.1093/bjaed/mkw011McCorry LK.Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System.Am J Pharm Educ. 2007;71(4):78. doi:10.5688/aj710478Kreibig SD.Autonomic nervous system activity in emotion: A review.Biol Psychol.2010;84(3):394-421. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.03.010National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dysautonomia Information Page.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple system atrophy fact sheet.National Center for Advanced Translational Sciences.Pure autonomic failure.Additional ReadingJänig W.Autonomic Nervous System.Human Physiology.Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg; 1989. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-73831-9_16.Straub, RO.Health Psychology: A Biopsychosocial Approach.New York: Macmillian, 2016.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bankenahally R, Krovvidi H.Autonomic nervous system: anatomy, physiology, and relevance in anaesthesia and critical care medicine.BJA Education.2016;16(11):381-387. doi:10.1093/bjaed/mkw011McCorry LK.Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System.Am J Pharm Educ. 2007;71(4):78. doi:10.5688/aj710478Kreibig SD.Autonomic nervous system activity in emotion: A review.Biol Psychol.2010;84(3):394-421. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.03.010National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dysautonomia Information Page.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple system atrophy fact sheet.National Center for Advanced Translational Sciences.Pure autonomic failure.

Bankenahally R, Krovvidi H.Autonomic nervous system: anatomy, physiology, and relevance in anaesthesia and critical care medicine.BJA Education.2016;16(11):381-387. doi:10.1093/bjaed/mkw011

McCorry LK.Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System.Am J Pharm Educ. 2007;71(4):78. doi:10.5688/aj710478

Kreibig SD.Autonomic nervous system activity in emotion: A review.Biol Psychol.2010;84(3):394-421. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.03.010

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dysautonomia Information Page.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple system atrophy fact sheet.

National Center for Advanced Translational Sciences.Pure autonomic failure.

Jänig W.Autonomic Nervous System.Human Physiology.Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg; 1989. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-73831-9_16.Straub, RO.Health Psychology: A Biopsychosocial Approach.New York: Macmillian, 2016.

Jänig W.Autonomic Nervous System.Human Physiology.Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg; 1989. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-73831-9_16.

Straub, RO.Health Psychology: A Biopsychosocial Approach.New York: Macmillian, 2016.

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