Sympathetic Nervous System
| Definition: |
The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system. |
| Notes: |
/drug eff: consider also SYMPATHOLYTICS & SYMPATHOMIMETICS; /surg: probably SYMPATHECTOMY |
Sympathetic Nervous System Categories.
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Vasomotor System - The neural systems which act on vascular smooth muscle to control blood vessel diameter. The major neural control is through the sympathetic nervous system. |
Sympathetic Nervous System Definitions and Terms
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