Figure 6.13: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System

An illustration depicts the function of the autonomic nervous systems, which shows two divisions: The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous systems consist of paravertebral ganglia and prevertebral ganglia, which involves superior cervical ganglion, inferior cervical, celiac ganglion, superior mesenteric ganglion, and inferior mesenteric ganglion. The function of the sympathetic division is as follows. The superior cervical ganglion is involved in the functions of dilating pupils, inhibiting salivation and lacrimation, dilating airways, accelerating heartbeat, stimulating secretion by sweat glands, piloerection, hair follicle, inhibiting digestion, stimulating glucose production and release, inhibiting digestion, dilating blood vessels in intestines, constricting blood vessels in intestines, relaxing the urinary bladder, and stimulating ejaculation. The parasympathetic nervous systems consist of parasympathetic ganglia in or near the end organs. The function of the parasympathetic division is as follows: Constricts pupils, stimulates salivation and lacrimation, constricts airways, slows the heartbeat, stimulates digestion, stimulates the gallbladder to release bile, dilates blood vessels in intestines, stimulates urinary bladder to contract, and stimulates a penile erection.


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