parasympathetic nervous system

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parasympathetic nervous system

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Â© A Dictionary of Biology 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

parasympathetic nervous system Part of the autonomic nervous system. Its nerve endings release acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter and its actions tend to antagonize those of the sympathetic nervous system. For example, the parasympathetic nervous system increases salivary gland secretion, decreases heart rate, promotes digestion (by increasing peristalsis), and dilates blood vessels, while the sympathetic nervous system has opposite effects.

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parasympathetic nervous system

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Â© A Dictionary of Zoology 1999, originally published by Oxford University Press 1999. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

parasympathetic nervous system That part of the autonomic nervous system which generally causes bodily functions to become appropriate for calm conditions, for instance by slowing down the heart rate and promoting digestion. Nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system tend to form ganglia (ganglion) at the effector organ such that preganglionic fibres from the spinal cord are long, postganglionic fibres are short. The nerve endings of the parasympathetic nerve system are cholinergic.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "parasympathetic nervous system." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "parasympathetic nervous system." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (December 1, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-parasympatheticnervssystm.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "parasympathetic nervous system." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved December 01, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-parasympatheticnervssystm.html

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parasympathetic nervous system

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Â© A Dictionary of Nursing 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

parasympathetic nervous system (pa-ră-sim-pă-thet-ik) n. one of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system, having fibres that leave the central nervous system from the brain and the lower portion of the spinal cord and are distributed to blood vessels, glands, and internal organs. It is responsible for (among other effects) slowing the heart rate and constricting the pupillary muscles. The nerve endings release acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.

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