The Autonomic Nervous System

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) (or visceral nervous system) is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system, maintaining homeostasis in the body. These activities are generally performed without conscious control.^[1] The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils, micturition (urination), and sexual arousal. Whereas most of its actions are involuntary, some, such as breathing, work in tandem with the conscious mind.

It can be divided by subsystems into the parasympathetic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system.^[1][2] It can also be divided functionally, into its sensory and motor systems.

The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of the autonomic nervous system, and sometimes considered an independent system.