autonomic nervous system
nounDefinition of autonomic nervous system
: a part of the vertebrate nervous system that innervates smooth and cardiac muscle and glandular tissues and governs involuntary actions (such as secretion and peristalsis) and that consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
Examples of autonomic nervous system in a Sentence
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This is one half of your autonomic nervous system, all of which works without your needing to think about it. — Anne R. Crecelius, The Conversation, "Why do people faint?," 20 June 2019 The other half of your autonomic nervous system is the sympathetic nervous system. — Anne R. Crecelius, The Conversation, "Why do people faint?," 20 June 2019 As Scanlan explains, deep pressure is thought to help reduce the physiological arousal associated with anxiety by acting on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Do Weighted Blankets Even Do Anything for Anxiety?," 7 May 2019 Back in 2011, Mills' health journey began when she was diagnosed at the age of 19 with rare illness postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which compromised her autonomic nervous system and left her with chronic fatigue and digestive issues. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "A Beginner's Guide to Plant-Based Eating With Deliciously Ella," 15 Sep. 2018 In addition to controlling your body’s involuntary processes, your autonomic nervous system also affects your flight or fight response, which can get activated in response to nerves. — Alison Goldman, SELF, "7 Possible Reasons Your Hands Are Shaking," 21 May 2018 This is the largest nerve of the autonomic nervous system - extending from the brain to the colon - and plays a key role in heart, lung and digestive function. — Carrie Dennett, chicagotribune.com, "Could walking barefoot on grass improve your health? Some science suggests it can.," 11 July 2018 The study outlines other health consequences posed by exposure to air pollution, including inflammation and complications in the autonomic nervous system, which controls unconscious bodily functions like heartbeats and breathing. — Hannah Holzer, sacbee, "Air pollution increases risk for type 2 diabetes, study finds," 12 July 2018 Sleep is a cornerstone of your health, and not getting enough (that’s at least seven hours a night for people 18 and over) can greatly affect your autonomic nervous system (ANS). — Alison Goldman, SELF, "7 Possible Reasons Your Hands Are Shaking," 21 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'autonomic nervous system.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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