Obj. 3: Divisions of the ANS: General Functions Flashcards
What are the two divisions of the ANS?
sympathetic and parasympathetic
What is the sympathetic division of the ANS responsible for?
The sympathetic division mobilizes the body during extreme situations
What is the parasympathetic division of the ANS responsible for?
The parasympathetic division of the ANS performs maintenance activities
and conserves body energy
How do the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems work together?
The parasympathtic and sympathetic divisions counterbalance each other and always work together although one may be dominant at any given time.
What is the role of the parasympathetic division?
the parasympathetic division is concerned with keeping body energy use low, resting state of the body, maintenance activities.
What are the “D” activities and which division are they involved in?
D= digestion, defecation, and diuresis
The parasympathetic division
What are the “E” activites and which division is involved with them?
“E” = exercise, excitement, emergency, and embarassment
the sympathetic division
Describe the general “D” activities of a person who relaxes and reads after eating a meal:
- blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rates are low
- gastrointestinal tract activity is high (digesting food)
- the pupils are constricted and lenses are accommodated for close vision
Describe the general “E” activities of a person who is threatened by danger:
- Heart rate increases, and breathing is rapid and deep (bronchioles dilate)
- The skin is sweaty, and the pupils dilate
- The liver releases glucose as a rapid energy source for the skeletal muscles, heart & brain
What is the role of the sympathetic division of the ANS?
The sympathetic division is the “fight-or-flight” system
How does the sympathetic division promote adjustements during exercise or when being threatened?
blood flow to organs is reduced, blood flow is shunted to the muscles
