PHGY 209 Lecture Notes - Baroreceptor, Carotid Sinus, Baroreflex
6 Apr 2012
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Document Summary
The autonomic nervous system (ans) is a sensory and motor system which innervates visceral tissue and organs of the body. The ans is responsible for many involuntary responses to stimulus input. The ans is intimately connected to the idea of homeostasis we discussed earlier: this system allows the maintenance of a relatively constant milieu interieur which is isolated from the external environment. Factors like blood pressure, temperature control, and many others are all controlled by the ans. The output of the ans can be subdivided into two main subcategories and is related to another system called the enteric system. The first subcategory is called the sympathetic system and the second is the parasympathetic system: the sympathetic system is in charge of fight or flight mechanisms such as panic or excitement. For example, raising of heart rate when running away in fear: the parasympathetic system is in charge of rest and digest functions.
