Automatic Nervous System: Focusing on Parasympathetic System
In the Automatic Nervous System (ANS), different bodily functions are controlled without the conscious effort of a person controlling these functions. Many functions throughout the body are controlled by this system. Things that are controlled by the ANS includes digestion, heart rate, and urination. Under this system, there is the sympathetic “fight or flight” and the parasympathetic “rest and digest”. The activation of the sympathetic system will then lead to the parasympathetic system. After being aroused by something (surprised or scared), the parasympathetic system calms the body down. It does this by regulating aspects such as heart rate will be slowed, muscles relax, and pupils constrict. It is essential for the body to get back into the state of being “calm” in order to carry out of functions and daily activities.
This diagram above further compares the differences of parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. Both systems effect the whole body, even including the gallbladder and salivation. Different responses are activated from either the brain or the spinal cord. One nerve cell is located in the brain or spinal cord, and the other nerve cell is located on a specific organ. As viewed in the image, for the sympathetic nerve cells, they tend to be located near the spinal cord, whereas for the parasympathetic nerve cells tend to be located near the organ.
Activating the parasympathetic nervous system is essential to ensuring that people feel more at ease. I am often stressed from the simplest of different things. When I did track in high school, especially before a meet, I often would experience the typical systems that are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. My whole body would start to sweat, as well as my heart rate would increase so high it would make it hard for me to breathe. After the race, my body would slowly resume back, and my heart rate would go down. With further research, I noticed the impact that the parasympathetic nervous system can have can on my body. Overtime, I became accustomed to both the race and exercising from practice. Therefore, the intensity of my symptoms decreased. For instance, while my heart rate began to speed up as I was walking to my race, this was much better than the symptoms I experienced before. Training my body to be more at ease can have many benefits. Being in a more rested state of mind can lead to many benefits, such as a lower blood pressure, better sleep, and heart rate variability.
Works Cited
Low, Phillip. “Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System – Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders.” Merck Manuals Consumer Version, Merck Manuals, www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/autonomic-nervous-system-disorders/overview-of-the-autonomic-nervous-system.
“Introduction to the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).” introduction_to_the_ans [TUSOM | Pharmwiki], tmedweb.tulane.edu/pharmwiki/doku.php/introduction_to_the_ans.
Wede, Josh. “Lecture 4- Neurons and Neurotransmitters.” The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 18 Sept. 2019. Lecture.