autonomic nervous system

noun

Definition of autonomic nervous system

: 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 In dysautonomia, patients experienced direct damage to the autonomic nervous system that persists after infection. — Erin Prater, Fortune, 31 May 2022 The finding makes sense because the enzyme plays an important role in regulating the autonomic nervous system, which controls breathing, heart rate and other basic bodily functions. — Dan Hurley, Washington Post, 23 May 2022 One leading area of research is exploring possible dysfunction in the body’s autonomic nervous system, which controls unconscious functions such as breathing, heart rate and digestion. — Ariana Eunjung Cha, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Apr. 2022 Her main finding was endocrine dysfunction in what’s known as the autonomic nervous system, which primes people’s fight-or-flight response. — Ariana Eunjung Cha, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Apr. 2022 The autonomic nervous system, which regulates things like heart rate, pupil dilation, body temperature, and digestion, can be split into two categories: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. — Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 28 Mar. 2022 Evidence suggests that the immune response to Covid may impact your autonomic nervous system, triggering dysautonomia. — Jessica Dulong, CNN, 22 Mar. 2022 Consequently, negative adaptation to training stress potentially involves the autonomic nervous system and may result in an altered heart rate. — Jeff Gaudette, Outside Online, 3 June 2014 The autonomic nervous system also fulfills a pivotal role in stress tolerance. — Jeff Gaudette, Outside Online, 3 June 2014 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'autonomic nervous system.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

3 Jun 2022

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“Autonomic nervous system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomic%20nervous%20system. Accessed 6 Jul. 2022.

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More Definitions for autonomic nervous system

autonomic nervous system

noun

Medical Definition of autonomic nervous system

: 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