Chapter 15 Flashcards
Autonomic nervous system
A division of the nervous system that monitors and adjusts glands, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle.
visceral reflexes
—unconscious and automatic reflexes to stimuli.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
A division of the ANS that is usually involved in activating normal body functions such as digestion, urination, and defecation.
Sympathetic Nervous System
A division of the ANS that is usually involved in preparing the body for physical activity.
Preganglionic Neuron
A neuron that transfers a signal from the CNS to a ganglion.
Postganglionic Neuron
A neuron that transfers a signal from a ganglion to an organ.
PNS signals
consists of both long preganglionic neurons that nearly reach the organ and short postganglionic neurons that make it the rest of the way.
Sympathetic nerves
The neurons of the sympathetic nervous system are located in the spinal cord between the first thoracic and second lumbar regions. The neurons use spinal nerves to move messages to organs and communicate the commands of the ANS.
Parasympathetic nerves
It sends messages from the brain via specific cranial nerve, and from the spinal cord via the pelvic nerves.
Sympathetic neurons
short preganglionic neurons and long postganglionic neurons.