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Health Advice and Information on the Nervous System
The Nervous System
The nervous system is actually comprised of overlapping systems. The first is the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and the spinal chord. Then there is the peripheral nervous system, consisting of the autonomic nervous system, which is concerned with heart rate, glandular function and the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, over which we have little concious control, and the voluntary nervous system, which connects the cemtral nervous system to all the body tissues and voluntary muscles. The autonomic nervous system has two arms, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system prepares out internal organs for emergency and times when exta demands are made on our bodies. it operates in sympathy with our emotions and tends to be activated by excitement, extasy or emergency. It can be seen as an accelerator telling the body how to act. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system can lead to immune suppression.
The parasympathetic nervous system is more the stopper or brake. It is responsible for the withdrwl and returning the body to normal function after excitement or emergency. It also controls our bodily functions during times of rest, relaxation and sleep, visualisation and meditation.In the deepest stages of sleep, potent immune-enhancing chemicals are relesed and immune functions are greatly increased.
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