Autonomic Nervous System

Front 1

What is the Autonomic Nervous System?

Back 1

The Autonomic Nervous System is where some of the activities in your body happen without you realising it. For Example- your heart, the movement of food in your intestines, sweating and pupil size.

Front 2

What are the 2 parts of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Back 2

Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic Nervous System.

Front 3

What is the Sympathetic Nervous System?

Back 3

It speeds up the functions of the body and makes it work more efficiently. It is the system that prepares your body for emergencies by making you more alert and preparing your body to act.

Front 4

What is the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

Back 4

It slows everything down. It is the system in control when you are resting.

Front 5

What are the functions of the Sympathetic Nervous System?

Back 5

* diverts blood flow away from the digestive tract and the skin
* stops peristalsis—the muscular action that mixes food in the intestines
* maintains blood flow to the lungs and the muscles of the skeleton—blood flow to the muscles may be increased by up to 120%
* opens the bronchioles (airways to the lungs)—this increases the amount of air able to enter the lungs, increasing the supply of oxygen to the body
* increases heart rate, thereby increasing blood flow to the muscles of the skeleton
* relaxes the muscles in the eye and dilates the pupils, allowing more light to enter the eye and improving distance vision
* increases blood flow to the heart.

Front 6

What are the functions of the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

Back 6

* increases blood flow to the digestive tract
* stimulates the salivary glands and increases the rate of peristalsis, in support of digestion
* reduces the diameter of the bronchioles when there is a reduced need for oxygen
* controls the heartbeat
* contracts the muscles of the eye and reduces the diameter of the pupil to allow close vision.