THE

NERVOUS
SYSTEM

FIG. 4-13. The parasympathetic

nervous system. Preganglionic
fibers are red; postganglionic
fibers are blue. (Barr ML, Kiernan
JA: The Human Nervous System:
An anatomical Viewpoint, 4th
ed. Philadelphia, Harper & Row,
1983.)

Sympathetic System

The sympathetic nervous system is, in some ways, more complicated and is more widely distributed than
the parasympathetic nervous system, but it is, at the same time, more nearly segmental and therefore lends
itself more easily to a general rather that a detailed description.

White Rami Communicants. The cell bodies of the preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic system are
located in the spinal cord at the level of origin of all the thoracic and of the first two lumbar nerves.
Occasionally they send fibers through the 8th cervical nerve or through the 3rd lumbar nerve. (The cell
bodies form a cell group, the intermediolateral, in the spinal cord).
 Table 26-2. Effects of Autonomic Nervous System on Organs of the Body
Organ Sympathetic action Parasympathetic
Action

Eye Pupil Dilates Contracts

Ciliary muscle Relaxes Contracts
Glands Lacrimal, parotid, Reduces secretion by Increases secretion
submandibular, causing vasoconstriction of
sublingual, nasal blood vessels

Sweat Increases secretion

Heart Cardiac muscle Increases force of Decreases force of

contraction contraction

Lung Bronchial muscle' Relaxes (dilates bronchi) Contracts (constricts

bronchi),
Bronchial secretion increases secretion

Bronchial arteries Constricts Dilates

Gastrointestinal Muscle in walls Decreases peristalsis Increases peristalsis

Tract
Muscle in sphincters Contracts Relaxes
Glands Reduces secretion by Increases secretion
vasoconstriction of blood
vessels

Liver Breaks down glycogen into

glucose
Gallbladder Relaxes Contracts

Kidney Decreases output due to

constriction of arteries

Urinary bladder Bladder wall (detrusor) Relaxes Contracts

Sphincter vesicae Contracts Relaxes

Erectile tissue of Relaxes, causes eriction

penis and clitoris
Ejaculation contracts smooth muscle of
vas deferens, seminal
vesicles, and prostate

Systemic arteries Constricts

Skin Constricts
Abdominal constricts (alpha receptors),
Muscle dilates (beta receptors)
dilates (cholinergic)
Erector pili muscles Contracts

Suprarenal Stimulates
Cortex Liberates epinephrine and
Medulla norepinephrine