The autonomic nervous system or vegetative it is a component of the peripheral nervous system, which is at the same time a division of the nervous system. Its function is to regulate the functions of the involuntary processes of our body such as respiration, cardiovascular activity, digestion, etc..
The human body and the functions of its organs are controlled by a very important system called the nervous system. This system can be more or less developed, being much more complex in vertebrate animals, like us humans..
In humans the nervous system has two divisions: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord and represents the command center of the body. Thanks to this system we are able to develop consciousness, intelligence, feelings, memories, etc..
On the other hand, the peripheral nervous system is made up of all the nerves and ganglia that do not belong to the brain and spinal cord. Its function is to connect our organs with the central nervous system.
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The peripheral nervous system is divided into two systems, the nervous system autonomous and the nervous system somatic:
The autonomic nervous system has three subdivisions:
The autonomic nervous system controls and regulates our involuntary functions, which are those that occur in our body without the need for us to think about them.
These functions, although they escape our awareness, are very important, as they include the maintenance of heart rate and blood pressure, respiration, digestion, water and electrolyte balance, defecation, urination and sexual arousal, among many others.
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that connects the brain with organs such as:
The sensory neurons of the autonomic nervous system measure the internal conditions of our body and send the pertinent information to the brain.
The motor neurons, on the other hand, they control the contractions of the smooth and cardiac muscles, as well as the function of the glands, by transmitting messages from the central nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system usually receives information from both our internal conditions and those that are external to us. Once it receives it, it responds by stimulating or inhibiting different bodily processes, which it achieves through the two divisions that comprise it (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system)..
Both parts of the autonomic nervous system are equally important. Normally it is said that the sympathetic division is responsible for the activation or stimulation of processes, while the parasympathetic one does the opposite, that is, it inhibits them.
For example, if you see a lion, the sympathetic system will act to make you act and possibly hide or run. Once there is no danger, the parasympathetic system returns the body to normal..
The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, and enteric nervous system..
The sympathetic nervous system is one that helps our organs and tissues prepare for sudden stressful events or emergency situations..
For example, when faced with a frightening situation, the sympathetic nervous system can:
The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the control of bodily processes in normal situations.
This system does exactly the opposite of the sympathetic division, since its main function is to preserve or restore functions after an alarm state such as those triggered by the sympathetic system..
Therefore, the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for:
The enteric nervous system is the part of the autonomic nervous system that is also in charge of unconscious functions, but specifically those that have to do with the regulation of the activity of visceral organs such as the stomach, intestines, pancreas and urinary bladder. , for example.
Communication between the “parts” of the autonomic nervous system is highly dependent on two chemical messengers, also known as neurotransmitters: acetylcholine and adrenaline..
Both messengers are released by nerve fibers. Acetylcholine is generally associated with parasympathetic, that is, inhibitory effects, and adrenaline with sympathetic or stimulating effects (although acetylcholine can also stimulate sweating, for example).
The pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system is dedicated to the study of the interactions between different drugs used for therapeutic purposes.
Since this system is responsible for regulating the functions of our internal organs, such as the heart and arteries, veins and associated vessels, lungs and intestines, many drugs are used to treat different conditions such as:
Thanks to pharmacological studies based on the autonomic nervous system, today more and more drugs are specially designed to inhibit or stimulate receptors at the level of cell membranes, specific nerves and other structures related to the autonomic nervous system..
In the same way, pharmacology is in charge of studying the potential effects that a certain drug, prescribed for a disease not related to this system, may affect it directly or indirectly..
In this sense, based on how they affect the autonomic nervous system, four categories of drugs have been proposed:
Disorders or diseases of the autonomic nervous system can affect multiple parts of our body and different physiological processes within us. They usually result from damage to autonomic nerves or brain regions responsible for controlling body processes.
As is true for the rest of the peripheral nervous system, the main diseases that can result in autonomic nervous system damage are:
On the other hand, we can name two specific disorders of the autonomic nervous system:
It is a rare syndrome characterized by the immune system attacking the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, resulting in paralysis and muscle weakness. Its cause is not known exactly, but it has been suggested that it occurs after certain viral or bacterial infections.
It is a hereditary nervous disorder classified as one of the most common inherited neurological disorders. It is characterized because it affects the nerves of the legs and feet and, sometimes, also those of the arms and hands. Patients lose, in addition to the sense of touch, muscle mass.
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