![autonomic nervous system vs. somatic nervous system autonomic nervous system vs. somatic nervous system](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1d/c0/da/1dc0da9fda90c1e45426e5f6be9638ff--control-system-autonomic-nervous-system.jpg)
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system? It works independently from voluntary control and is controlled by the hypothalamus. The signal gets passed via two, less myelinated neurones that traverse a cluster of neural cell bodies called ganglions. Any activity that you consciously perceive or control, such as moving fingers, reading, or speaking, fall under the banner of the somatic nervous system.Īutonomic nervous system: This is the part of the peripheral nervous system which is in charge of the involuntary and unconscious control of processes of the body, such as heart rate, blinking, digestion, relaxation, and arousal. The somatic nervous system uses motor neurones that have thick myelination and end in specific powerful synapses called neuromuscular junctions. It is also responsible for the voluntary control of your muscles. Somatic nervous system: This part of the peripheral nervous system communicates with your senses (the Greek word for senses is "soma"). The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary movement, whereas the autonomic nervous system is responsible for involuntary movement.
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What is the difference between the autonomic and the somatic nervous system?Īlthough the autonomic and the somatic nervous systems are parts of the peripheral nervous system, they differ in function. Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The PNS response is slow, while the sympathetic is fast.įigure 2. While PNS maintains the homeostasis of the body (otherwise known as "rest and digest"), the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) controls the body's responses to a "fight and flight" situation. The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) acts opposite of the sympathetic system. The autonomic nervous system is part of the central nervous system (CNS). The autonomic nervous system is distinct from the somatic nervous system, which creates a voluntary response. The autonomic nervous system has three divisions that use different anatomy parts and differ in their function. The autonomic system regulates heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, digestion, and arousal. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a neural pathway part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates automatic (involuntary) responses to stimuli.