THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system Flashcards
What are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems branches of?
The autonomic nervous system
Define: sympathetic nervous system
Increases arousal to prepare the body for action
Define: flight or fight response
Feature of the sympathetic nervous system
A type of response that prepares the body to deal with a potential threat by either confronting it or avoiding it.
What happens to the body’s organs when the sympathetic nervous system is in action?
The organs which are necessary for survival work harder (eg. heart rate, perspiration, pupils dilate) while unnecessary organs slow down to conserve energy (eg. digestion, bladder function)
Define: parasympathetic nervous system
maintains homeostasis and decreases the body’s arousal folowing activation of the sympathetic nervous system
Define: homeostasis
The body’s balanced and healthy state
