Vegetative Nervous System

Definition

The human nervous system can be classified in different ways: The first classification is based on where each part of the nervous system is located:

  • A distinction is made between the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and the spinal cord,
  • And a peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes all other nerves, the peripheral nerves.

The other classification depends on whether consciousness is involved or not:

  • The somatic nervous system forms the arbitrary part. It can be influenced and controlled by humans, for example to plan, execute and coordinate movements.
  • In contrast, the autonomic nervous system (VNS) is not subject to our arbitrary control. It is therefore also called “autonomous nervous system”, since it practically works “on its own”.

The function of the autonomic nervous system

The vegetative nervous system fulfills many, sometimes vital, tasks in our body. The processes that constantly occur here are usually not even conscious to us. We do not have to actively think about the fact that we have to continue breathing and the intestines digest our food without us being permanently aware of it and practically giving it the order to do so.

The vegetative nervous system can react very quickly to sudden changes (for example, a full stomach or a lion standing in front of you) and adapt the functions of the body (i.e., correspondingly, either stimulating digestion or general activation that enables you to run away). This is possible much faster than if hormones were responsible for such reactions, because they have to be released first and then transported to their target organs via the bloodstream. Since there are so many parallel, mostly very complex processes in our body, it is only advantageous for us that the autonomic nervous system in healthy people unconsciously always ensures that they proceed correctly.

The nerves of the autonomic nervous system therefore end in principle at the smooth muscle cells. These are located in almost all internal organs and are not subject to the arbitrary motor activity. Of course, the autonomic nervous system is also subject to control. This is done with the help of superordinate centers of the brain and hormones.

  • Breathing,
  • Digestion,
  • Blood pressure,
  • Metabolism
  • And even more organs.

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All articles in this series:

  1. Vegetative Nervous System
  2. Classification of the autonomic nervous system