Sympathetic Nervous System
Definition
The sympathetic nervous system is part of autonomic nervous system responsible for initiating "fight or flight" response during stressful situations.
Analogy
The sympathetic nervous system is like your body's own personal superhero. When danger or stress appears, it swoops in to prepare your body for action, increasing heart rate and blood pressure while slowing digestion.
Related terms
Parasympathetic Nervous System: This part of the autonomic nervous system helps to conserve energy by slowing the heart rate and increasing intestinal activity.
Adrenal Medulla: It's a part of adrenal gland that secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline when stimulated by sympathetic nervous system.
Homeostasis: A state of equilibrium in the body maintained by various physiological processes, often disrupted during "fight or flight" response.
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