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parasympathetic nervous system

parasympathetic part of autonomic division of nervous system

Preganglionic parasympathetic fibres emerge from two widely separated levels: cranially from the oculomotor, facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves, and caudally from the sacral region of the spinal cord. This craniosacral outflow distinguishes the division from its sympathetic counterpart within the vertebrate autonomic nervous system. Most of its neurons are cholinergic, and the responses they produce are mediated by muscarinic receptors. Its targets include the salivary glands, the thoracic and abdominal viscera, the bladder, and the genitalia. In developmental terms it is classified as a structure with a developmental contribution from the neural crest, and its Latin designation names it as the parasympathetic part of the autonomic division of the nervous system.

The parasympathetic nervous system is one of the two divisions of the vertebrate autonomic nervous system. Parasympathetic nerves emerge cranially as pre ganglionic fibers from oculomotor, facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus and from the sacral region of the spinal cord. Most neurons are cholinergic and responses are mediated by muscarinic receptors. The parasympathetic system innervates, for example: salivary glands, thoracic and abdominal viscera, bladder and genitalia[GO].

On this page
Type Bone
Système corporel Nerveux
Structure parente structure with developmental contribution from neural crest
Nom latin parasympathetic part of autonomic division of nervous system
FMA ID 9907

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the craniosacral outflow of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Parasympathetic preganglionic fibers originate from two regions: cranially from the brainstem via cranial nerves III (oculomotor), VII (facial), IX (glossopharyngeal), and X (vagus), and sacrally from spinal cord levels S2-S4. This craniosacral pattern distinguishes it from the thoracolumbar sympathetic system.

What neurotransmitter does the parasympathetic nervous system use?

Both preganglionic and postganglionic parasympathetic neurons release acetylcholine as their neurotransmitter, making them cholinergic. Acetylcholine acts on nicotinic receptors at ganglia and muscarinic receptors at target organs.

What are the main effects of parasympathetic activation on the body?

Parasympathetic activation promotes rest-and-digest responses: decreasing heart rate, stimulating salivation and digestion, constricting pupils, promoting urination and defecation, and enabling sexual arousal. It conserves and restores body energy.

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy — FMA:9907 Reference anatomy ontology (University of Washington)
  2. UBERON — UBERON:0000011 Cross-species anatomy ontology (EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service)

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Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.