Autonomic Nervous System Essay

614 Words2 Pages

Regulation of Autonomic Nervous System Activity

Introduction

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is largely regulated by autonomic reflexes and many of these reflexes; sensory information is transmitted to the hypothalamus and brainstem which are considered the control centers of our bodies (McCorry, 2006). Many of us have come to know the ANS as the involuntary nervous system. The ANS innervates cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, endocrine and exocrine glands; therefore it significantly contributes to homeostasis (McCorry, 2006). Most of the sensory input is from the thoracic and abdominal viscera and is transmitted to the brainstem by afferent fibers of the cranial nerve X which is the vagus nerve. After the input is integrated the response is carried out by the transmission of nerve signals of the preganglionic autonomic neurons. So what are some functions of the autonomic nervous system one may ask? Blushing (my favorite) is a response from the frontal cortex and involves vasodilatation of blood vessels to the face. Others may include fainting and a fast heart rate or increased blo...

Show More
Related

  • 1.3 Explain The Cardiac Cycle Essay

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    It increases during physical exercise to deliver extra oxygen to the tissues and to take away excess carbon dioxide. As mentioned at rest, the heart beats around 75 beats per minute but during exercise this could exceed to 200 times per minute. The SAN controls the heart rate. The rate increases or decreases when it receives information by two autonomic nerves that link the SAN and the cardiovascular centre in the medulla of the brain. The sympathetic or accelerator nerve speeds up the heart. The synapses at the end of this nerve secretes noradrenaline. A parasympathetic or decelerator nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve slows down the heart and the synapses at the end of this nerve secretes

    Read More

  • William James’ and the Legacy He Left Behind

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    Friedman, B. H. Feelings and the body: The Jamesian perspective on autonomic specificity of emotion(2010). Biological Psychology.

    Read More

  • Capture Myopathy: Syndrome within Captive Animals

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    When a receptor is activated and the stimulus is taken to the hypothalamus and then relayed out to the “limbic system and neocortical areas…impulses stimulate the neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous system,” which can cause an array of issues if not careful and if the stress signal is prolonged. (3)

    Read More

  • Lupus Essay

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...rvous system to the immunity supporting parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is the “relaxation” part of our autonomic nervous system, which controls all of our body’s involuntary functions.

    Read More

  • Essay On Facial Nerve

    777 Words  | 2 Pages

    The facial nerve consists of mixed nerves with associated parasympathetic fibers (Marieb & Hoehn). It conveys motor impulses to skeletal muscles of the face: the muscles of facial expression (Marieb & Hoehn). It transmits parasympathetic motor impulses to the lacrimal glands for tear production, nasal and palatine glands for smell and mucous production, and submandibular and sublingual salivary glands to produce saliva (Mar...

    Read More

  • Cerebral Cortex Case Study

    598 Words  | 2 Pages

    Firstly, there is various of sensing activities as in seeing and hearing as in a sense of understanding of what is seen and heard. Secondly the sense of feeling in numerous parts of the body from the head to the toes. The ability to recall past events, the sophisticated emotions and the thinking process. The cerebellum acts as a physiological microcomputer which intercepts various sensory and motor nerves to smooth out what would otherwise be jerky muscle motions. The medulla controls the elementary functions responsible for life, such as breathing, cardiac rate and kidney functions. The medulla contains numerous of timing mechanisms as well as other interconnections that control swallowing and salivations.

    Read More

  • Dysautonomia Essay

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Autonomic Nervous System is responsible for the functions of the body that are not thought about to control. When this system dysfunctions, it can cause havoc on the human body. One example of this would be Dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is a rare but serious disease that affects the autonomic nervous system, has many symptoms, and offers few treatment options.

    Read More

  • Essay On Homeostasis

    3427 Words  | 7 Pages

    The ANS is part of the peripheral nervous system, being split into sympathetic pathways, which prepare the body for action and parasympathetic pathways which prepare the body for rest. This regulates the functions of the body and some of the muscles automatically.

    Read More

  • Respiratory System Essay

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    The respiratory system has six major areas that works together that allows the body to breathe, prevent choking, and not to allow harmful debris to enter the respiratory system are some of the functions that the respiratory system does. The respiratory system is divided into two regions, the upper and lower respiratory. The upper respiratory consists of the Nose (nasal) and Pharynx while the lower respiratory embodies the rest of the system which includes the Larynx, Trachea, Bronchioles and Lungs. The information provided will be done by three individuals the upper respiratory tract will be provided by Mr. David Brown, the lower respiratory tract will be given by Ms. Brianna Agee and the infectious diseases will be provided by Mr. Derrek Woods.

    Read More

  • Arrhythmias Essay

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    This condition can be treated various ways depending on “the type and frequency of arrhythmias, associated symptoms…, and the presence of structural heart disease” (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). Some patients may not need treatment at all, since they show not symptoms, since sometimes this condition can be naturally eliminated over the first year of life, but may still be required to have regular schedule appointments with the physician so the patients can be monitored. If symptoms are prevalent, the different treatment methods include a pacemaker, defibrillator, surgery, and medicine.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech To Persuade People Not To Drink Energy Drinks?

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adrenaline makes your heart beat faster and your eyes dilate, effects that can last longer than you might like.

    Read More

  • Characters And Roles In Nervous Conditions By Tsitsi Dangarembga

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tsitsi Dangarembga’s novel Nervous Conditions tells the story of Tambu’s life. In the story of her life you meet her cousin Nyasha and her aunt Lucia. All three of these characters being perfect examples of what it was like to be feminists in the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Nyasha and Lucia are aware of the patriarchy world they live in, but face many challenges due to this throughout the novel.

    Read More

  • Reflexes Essay

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    This arc belongs to the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is the part of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for controlling involuntary body functions. This system helps us maintain a steady heartbeat while we are sleeping, and anything else that is necessary to keep us alive during low levels of consciousness. This system affects the body functions that are not consciously managed, such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, pupillary dilation, and urination. However, there are some ANS actions that we are able to control with our mind to a certain extent, such as swallowing.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Nervous System And The Endocrine System

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nervous system is one of the major organ systems that is responsible for the coordination of biological activities inside the body through cells called neurons. It is composed of the brain and spinal cord which are surrounded by protective layers of bone and membrane tissues called meninges. There are two major divisions in the nervous system; first one is the central nervous system (CNS) and the other being the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and retina while the PNS includes the sensory neurons, ganglia, and connecting neurons. The nervous system applies control using nerves; almost as if sending a message by a telephone. The nervous system is fast due to its electrical nature. The nerve cells in this system are connected with each other in a complex manner where the neural pathways would be possible. Neural

    Read More

  • The Human Nervous System

    2573 Words  | 6 Pages

    [Online] Available at: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomyofthecentralnervoussystem/articleem.htm [Accessed: 1 Oct 2013]. LiveScience.com. 2013. Nervous System: Facts, Functions & Diseases.

    Read More

More about Autonomic Nervous System Essay

Open Document