Sympathetic nervous system

Sympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system
	Schematic illustration showing the sympathetic nervous system with sympathetic cord and target organs.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	pars sympathica divisionis autonomici systematis nervosi
Acronym(s)	SNS
MeSH	D013564
TA98	A14.3.01.001
TA2	6601
FMA	9906
	Anatomical terminology

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the parasympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system.^[1]^[2] The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of the autonomic nervous system, and sometimes considered an independent system.^[3]

The autonomic nervous system functions to regulate the body's unconscious actions. The sympathetic nervous system's primary process is to stimulate the body's fight or flight response. It is, however, constantly active at a basic level to maintain homeostasis.^[4] The sympathetic nervous system is described as being antagonistic to the parasympathetic nervous system. The latter stimulates the body to "feed and breed" and to (then) "rest-and-digest".

The SNS has a major role in various physiological processes such as blood glucose levels, body temperature, cardiac output, and immune system function. The formation of sympathetic neurons being observed at embryonic stage of life and its development during aging shows its significance in health; its dysfunction has shown to be linked to various health disorders.^[5]

^ Dorland's (2012). Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (32nd ed.). Elsevier Saunders. p. 1862. ISBN 978-1-4160-6257-8.
^ Pocock G, Richards C (2006). Human Physiology The Basis of Medicine (Third ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-19-856878-0.
^ "14.1B: Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System". Medicine LibreTexts. 2018-07-21. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
^ Brodal P (2004). The Central Nervous System: Structure and Function (3 ed.). Oxford University Press US. pp. 369–396. ISBN 0-19-516560-8.
^ Scott-Solomon, Emily; Boehm, Erica; Kuruvilla, Rejji (November 2021). "The sympathetic nervous system in development and disease". Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 22 (11): 685–702. doi:10.1038/s41583-021-00523-y. PMC 8530968. PMID 34599308.

[1] Dorland's (2012). Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (32nd ed.). Elsevier Saunders. p. 1862. ISBN 978-1-4160-6257-8.

[2] Pocock G, Richards C (2006). Human Physiology The Basis of Medicine (Third ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-19-856878-0.

[3] "14.1B: Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System". Medicine LibreTexts. 2018-07-21. Retrieved 2021-07-21.

[brodal-4] Brodal P (2004). The Central Nervous System: Structure and Function (3 ed.). Oxford University Press US. pp. 369–396. ISBN 0-19-516560-8.

[5] Scott-Solomon, Emily; Boehm, Erica; Kuruvilla, Rejji (November 2021). "The sympathetic nervous system in development and disease". Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 22 (11): 685–702. doi:10.1038/s41583-021-00523-y. PMC 8530968. PMID 34599308.

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