Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for automatic control of your body functions. It has three branches:
1. The sympathetic nervous system is activated in response to stress. It controls ‘fight or flight’ responses.
2. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated during calm times and is often considered the ‘rest and digest’
or ‘feed and breed’ system. It promotes growth and energy storage.
3. The enteric nervous system controls the gastrointestinal system.

Sympathetic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system

Eye
Pupils Pupils
dilate constrict

Lacrimal and
salivary glands

Saliva and
Saliva and
tears inhibited
Lungs tears stimulated

Breathing rate Breathing rate

increases decreases
Blood vessels constrict

Airways Airways
relaxed constricted

Heartbeat Heartbeat
speeds up slows down

Heart
Glucose
released Liver

Digestion
inhibited Stomach Digestion
stimulated

Adrenal glands
release Pancreas releases
Pancreas
epinephrine and insulin and digestive
enzymes
Downloaded by Brenna Wynn on 2023-08-17 at 10:29:49. Customer ID cus_MIUInGgVjeIIo4

norepinephrine
Rectum

Blood vessels
in gut dilated
Small
intestine
Large
intestine

Bladder

Bladder Bladder
relaxes contracts
Reproductive
organs

Stimulates orgasm Stimulates sexual arousal

PSYCHOLOGYT LS
®
Copyright © 2020 Psychology Tools Limited. All rights reserved.
 Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for automatic control of your body functions. It has three branches:
1. The sympathetic nervous system is activated in response to stress. It controls ‘fight or flight’ responses.
2. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated during calm times and is often considered the ‘rest and digest’
or ‘feed and breed’ system. It promotes growth and energy storage.
3. The enteric nervous system controls the gastrointestinal system.

Sympathetic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system

Eye
Pupils Pupils
dilate constrict

Lacrimal and
salivary glands

Saliva and
Saliva and
tears inhibited
Lungs tears stimulated

Breathing rate Breathing rate

increases decreases
Blood vessels constrict

Airways Airways
relaxed constricted

Heartbeat Heartbeat
speeds up slows down

Heart
Glucose
released Liver

Digestion
inhibited Stomach Digestion
stimulated

Adrenal glands
release Pancreas releases
Pancreas
epinephrine and insulin and digestive
enzymes
Downloaded by Brenna Wynn on 2023-08-17 at 10:29:49. Customer ID cus_MIUInGgVjeIIo4

norepinephrine
Rectum

Blood vessels
in gut dilated
Small
intestine
Large
intestine

Bladder

Bladder Bladder
relaxes contracts
Reproductive
organs

Stimulates orgasm Stimulates sexual arousal

PSYCHOLOGYT LS
®
Copyright © 2020 Psychology Tools Limited. All rights reserved.
 Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for automatic control of your body functions. It has three branches:
1. The sympathetic nervous system is activated in response to stress. It controls ‘fight or flight’ responses.
2. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated during calm times and is often considered the ‘rest and digest’
or ‘feed and breed’ system. It promotes growth and energy storage.
3. The enteric nervous system controls the gastrointestinal system.

Sympathetic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system

Eye
Pupils Pupils
dilate constrict

Lacrimal and
salivary glands

Saliva and
Saliva and
tears inhibited
Lungs tears stimulated

Breathing rate Breathing rate

increases decreases
Blood vessels constrict

Airways Airways
relaxed constricted

Heartbeat Heartbeat
speeds up slows down

Heart
Glucose
released Liver

Digestion
inhibited Stomach Digestion
stimulated

Adrenal glands
release Pancreas releases
Pancreas
epinephrine and insulin and digestive
norepinephrine enzymes
Downloaded by Brenna Wynn on 2023-08-17 at 10:29:49. Customer ID cus_MIUInGgVjeIIo4

Rectum

Blood vessels
in gut dilated
Small
intestine
Large
intestine

Bladder

Bladder Bladder
relaxes contracts
Reproductive
organs

Stimulates orgasm Stimulates sexual arousal

PSYCHOLOGYT LS
®
Copyright © 2020 Psychology Tools Limited. All rights reserved.