autonomic nervous system

noun

: a part of the vertebrate nervous system that innervates smooth and cardiac muscle and glandular tissues and governs involuntary actions (such as secretion and peristalsis) and that consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

Examples of autonomic nervous system in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trauma, however, has a deep and lasting impact on the autonomic nervous system, the part of your body responsible for regulating stress and returning you to a state of calm. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

After she was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, an autonomic nervous system disorder, Jessica Slice embraced a new identity: a person with a disability. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 June 2025

Nerve fibers send a message about lower salt levels to your brain, and the autonomic nervous system responds by constricting the blood vessels. —Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 12 May 2025

Your autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. —Heidi Cope, Health, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for autonomic nervous system

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• subsystem

Kids Definition

autonomic nervous system

noun

: the part of the vertebrate nervous system that controls involuntary actions (as heart rate and breathing) and that is made up of the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system

Medical Definition

autonomic nervous system

noun

: a part of the vertebrate nervous system that innervates smooth and cardiac muscle and glandular tissues and governs involuntary actions (as secretion, vasoconstriction, or peristalsis) and that consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

called also vegetative nervous system

compare central nervous system, peripheral nervous system