Parasympathetic Nervous System

Aka: Parasympathetic Nervous System, Parasympathetic System, Parasympathetic Nerve

II. Definitions

  1. Parasympathetic Nervous System
    1. Part of Autonomic Nervous System with activity that typically counters the Sympathetic Nervous System
    2. Energy conserving (anabolic) system activated in rest and relaxation situations
      1. Contrast with the Sympathetic Nervous System, an energy expending system activated in times of stress

III. Physiology: Activity

  1. Decreases pupil size (Miosis) and contracts ciliary muscle (accommodation)
  2. Stimulates Salivary WATERY secretion (contrast with viscous secretion by the Sympathetic System)
  3. Decreases Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
  4. Stimulates bronchoconstriction and Bronchial gland secretion
  5. Increases gastrointestinal activity (peristalsis) and secretion
  6. Relaxes gastrointestinal sphincters (e.g. anal sphincter in Defecation)
  7. Stimulates Urethral relaxation and Bladder contraction
  8. Mediates Erection (contrast with ejaculation mediated by the Sympathetic System)

IV. Anatomy

  1. Craniosacral division of the Autonomic Nervous System
  2. Signals originate
    1. Sacral spinal cord (S2 to S4) supplies urinary and Gastrointestinal Systems
    2. Brain Stem nucleii (CN 3, CN 7, CN 9, CN 10)
      1. Vagus Nerve (CN 10) has broad, far ranging activity (lungs, heart, gastrointestinal)
      2. Limited roles by CN 3 (pupil/ciliary constriction), CN 7 (tears/Saliva) and CN 9 (Saliva)
  3. Preganglion Neurons Synapse at cranial autonomic ganglia or in terminal ganglia near target organs
    1. Transmitted to target organ
  4. Images
    1. parasympatheticNervousSystem.jpg

V. Pathophysiology

  1. See Cholinergic Toxicity (e.g. Organophosphate Poisoning)
  2. See Anticholinergic Toxicity (e.g. Anticholinergic Medication)

VI. References

  1. Goldberg (2014) Clinical Neuroanatomy, Medmaster, p. 54-60
  2. Netter (1997) Atlas Human Anatomy, ICON Learning, p. 152-4

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Related Studies

Ontology: Parasympathetic Nervous System (C0030510)

Definition (MSH) The craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system. The cell bodies of the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are in brain stem nuclei and in the sacral spinal cord. They synapse in cranial autonomic ganglia or in terminal ganglia near target organs. The parasympathetic nervous system generally acts to conserve resources and restore homeostasis, often with effects reciprocal to the sympathetic nervous system.
Definition (CSP) craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system; generally acts to conserve resources and restore homeostasis, often with effects reciprocal to the sympathetic nervous system; cell bodies of the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are in brain stem nuclei and in the sacral spinal cord; they synapse in cranial autonomic ganglia or in terminal ganglia near target organs.
Concepts Body System (T022)
MSH D010275
SnomedCT 23424009
English Nervous Systems, Parasympathetic, Parasympathetic Nervous Systems, System, Parasympathetic Nervous, Systems, Parasympathetic Nervous, Nervous System, Parasympathetic, Parasympathetic part of autonomic division of nervous system, Pars parasympathica divisionis autonomici systematis nervosi, Structure of parasympathetic nervous system, nervous parasympathetic system, parasympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous systems, Parasympathetic nervous system, Parasympathetic nervous system structure (body structure), Parasympathetic nervous system structure, Parasympathetic nervous system, NOS, Parasympathetic Nervous System
Swedish Parasympatiska nervsystemet
Czech parasympatický nervový systém
Finnish Parasympaattinen hermosto
Russian NERVNAIA SISTEMA PARASIMPATICHESKAIA, НЕРВНАЯ СИСТЕМА ПАРАСИМПАТИЧЕСКАЯ
Croatian Not Translated[Parasympathetic Nervous System]
Latvian Nervu sistēma, parasimpātiskā, Parasimpātiskā nervu sistēma
Polish Układ nerwowy parasympatyczny, Układ cholinergiczny, Układ nerwowy przywspółczulny
Norwegian Parasympatiske nervesystem
Spanish estructura del sistema nervioso parasimpático (estructura corporal), estructura del sistema nervioso parasimpático, sistema nervioso parasimpático, Sistema Nervioso Parasimpático
French Système nerveux parasympathique
German Parasympathisches Nervensystem
Italian Sistema nervoso parasimpatico
Dutch Zenuwstelsel, parasympathisch
Portuguese Sistema Nervoso Parassimpático
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Parasympathetic nerve structure (C0459522)

Concepts Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023)
SnomedCT 78390006
English Parasympath nerve structure, nerves parasympathetic, parasympathetic nerve, Parasympathetic nerve structure (body structure), Parasympathetic nerve, Parasympathetic nerve structure, Parasympathetic nerve, NOS
Spanish estructura del nervio parasimpático (estructura corporal), estructura del nervio parasimpático, nervio parasimpático
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Anatomy

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