FREE ESSAY ON SYMPATHETIC &PARASYMPATHETIC DIVISIONS

SYMPATHETIC &PARASYMPATHETIC DIVISIONS

Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Divisions
The autonomic nervous system is made up of two divisions. There are many differences
between these divisions. First of all there are anatomical and physiological differences.
The parasympathetic division of the autonomic system origin is in the craniosacral
outflow, the brain stem nuclei of cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X; and spinal cord
segments S2-S4. The sympathetic division on the other hand is much more complex than the
parasympathetic and is originated in the thoracolumbar outflow. Also, in the lateral horn
of gray matter of the spinal cord segments of thoracic 1 to lumbar 2. Another important
physiological difference is the location of ganglia in each division. Ganglia of the
parasympathetic division are in intramural or close to the visceral organ served. The
sympathetic ganglia are located with in a few centimeters of the central nervous system.
They are also alongside the vertebral column and anterior to the vertebral column.
The relative length of preganglionic and postganglionic fibers in the parasympathetic and
sympathetic divisions is as such. The parasympathetic have long preganglionic and short
postganglionic. The sympathetic are just the opposite, short preganglionic and long
postganglionic. There is no rami communication in the parasympathetic division, while the
sympathetic division has gray and white rami communication. The functional goal of the
parasympathetic division is maintenance functions, to conserve and store energy. The
sympathetic division's goal is to provide the body to cope with emergencies and intense
muscular activity.
There are many effects of the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions on various
organs. The constricting of muscles and eye pupils stimulates the iris of the eye by the
parasympathetic system. The sympathetic effects are the stimualtes of dilator muscles and
dilate the eye pupils. The parasympathetic effects of the cilliary muscle of the eye are
to stimulate muscles, which result in the bulging of the lens for accommodation and close
vision. There are no effects for the sympathetic division. The nasal lacrimal, salivary,
gastric, and pancreas glands are effected by the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems.
The parasympathetic division stimulates secretory activity, where the sympathetic
division inhibits secretory activity and causes vasoconstruction of blood vessels
supplying the glands. There is no parasympathetic effect on sweat galnds, the adrenal
medulla, or the arrector pili muscles. There are sympathetic effects though. The glands
are inhibited by secretory activity causing vasoconstruction of blood vessels supplying
the glands. The sweat glands are stimulated copious sweating. The arrector pili muscles
are stimulated to contract and produce goosebumps. 
The parasympathetic division decreases the rate of the heart and slows it down. The
sympathetic division increases the rate and force of the heart. The bladder in both
divisions is opposite once again. In the parasympathetic of the bladder, the contraction
of smooth muscle and the relaxation in the sympathetic division. The parasympathetic
constricts for the bronchioles of the lungs, where the bronchioles are dilated in the
sympathetic. The liver's sympathetic effect is in epinephrine stimulus of the liver to
release glucose to the blood. There is no parasympathetic effect of the liver. In the
parasympathetic division the gallbladder contracts to expel bile. In the sympathetic
division the gallbladder is relaxed. The parasympathetic division causes the penis and
vagina to vasodilateor erect. The sympathetic division causes the penis to ejaculate and
the vagina to contract. There is little or no effect of the blood vessels in the
parasympathetic division. The sympathetic division constricts most vessels and increases
the blood pressure. It also constricts vessels of abdominal viscera and skin to divert
blood to muscles, brain, and heart when necessary. The cellular metabolism of the
sympathetic division is to increase coagulation. Sympathetic effects; adipose tissue by
lipolysis, and mental activity by increasing one's alertness.
I found the assignment a little different then most papers I have written do to one fact.
I found that I could not put what the book said into my own words. I don't have a wide
anatomical vocabulary, so I found that I had to copy a lot of what the book said. I am
sure this is similar to some students in the class.