human nervous systemis an amazing network of organs, nerve cells (neurons) and and neurotransmitters, connecting the brain and spinal cord to the entire body. It runs on electricity, sending and receiving signals at lightning speed to keep every part of the body functioning effectively. The nervous truly helps regulate everything happening in your body, whether it’s occurring consciously or unconsciously. It is divided into two branches: *.Conscious/voluntary — controls perception, analysis, memory, movement *.Unconscious/involuntary (also called Autonomic) — takes care of all of the things you don’t think about, such as your heartbeat, digestion, regulating body temperature, breathing, etc. Your Autonomic branch is further divided into two smaller branches: *.Sympathetic *.Parasympathetic The Sympathetic nervous systemgets you prepared for activity. It increases mental activity, heart rate and blood pressure, dilates the bronchials, slows or halts digestion, stimulates the release of stress hormones, makes goose bumps on the skin and more. When we’re excited, stressed or scared, the sympathetic nervous system gears us up for action (fight or flight) but shuts down digestion and elimination. The Parasympathetic nervous systemhelps you wind down, relax and digest your food. It relaxes mental activity, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, increases the flow of blood to the extremities, constricts bronchials and stimulates digestion. As we relax and unwind, the parasympathetic nervous system moves blood to the digestive organs, relaxes muscles and allows elimination.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 14:19:08 +0000
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