Functions of the autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system of a person includes a sympathetic and parasympathetic system. They have exactly the opposite effect on the same set of organs. The sympathetic nervous system is of great importance when a person falls into an emergency situation. The body directs energy to the rapidity of the heartbeat, increased sweating and salivation, acceleration of breathing. The parasympathetic nervous system is associated with a relaxed state. Energy is sent to digest food, to equalize breathing and pulse, to calm and sleep.

Function of maintaining homeostasis

The main function of the vegetative system is to maintain a constant internal environment of the body - homeostasis. At the same time, this system regulates the activity of organs and systems that do not participate in the maintenance of homeostasis( genital organs, intraocular muscles, etc.).

The autonomic nervous system of a person plays a decisive role in the adaptive reactions of the whole organism. Changes in vegetative functions are accompanied by various behavioral acts( sexual, food, protective, etc.) and are their "vegetative reflection".For example, acts of behavior manifested in muscle activity are always accompanied by a change in the set of vegetative functions. These are changes in the work of the circulatory system, digestion, respiration, secretion, secretion, etc. Especially important is the process of participation of autonomic reflex reactions in cases that threaten the existence of the organism, as well as in stressful situations with a bright emotional color( pain, fear, anger, rage, etc.).During this period, all the forces of the body are mobilized in order to successfully overcome the danger that has already arisen or is still threatening.

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The autonomic nervous system is not controlled by our consciousness, in contrast to the somatic system. The latter is consciously guided, ensuring the connection of the organism with the environment. However, the idea of ​​the autonomy of the autonomic nervous system, its independence from the higher departments of the central nervous system and the human psychic sphere is not entirely true. The cerebral cortex conditionally reflexively coordinates and regulates all the processes that occur in the body. It will be more correct to say that the vegetative and somatic systems function together. Their nerve centers at the level of the brain stem can not even be separated from each other. In this case, the peripheral parts of these two systems are completely different.

Increased function of the vegetative system

The most common increase in the functions of the vegetative system is associated with a disease such as neurasthenia. Patients with neurasthenia always exaggerate the intensity and severity of their own subjective sensations. Subsequently, due to the changed attitude towards himself and the surrounding world, a person creates some alienation, he is isolated from the outside world. Physicians call this "going to illness" when the patient has egocentrism, a sharp limitation of interests and a lack of initiative.

With all these manifestations, one can speak of a violation of the autonomic nervous system. The concentration of the patient on his sensations generates a constant sense of anxiety in neurasthenia. In general, this emotion is important for the body - it prepares the body for defensive reactions, mobilizes the nervous( vegetative), as well as humoral( endocrine) devices to carry out more active activities. Therefore, neurasthenia is usually accompanied by manifestations of an increase in the functions of the autonomic nervous system. Clear signs are palpitations, vascular reactions, frequent and shallow breathing, as well as nervous tremor.

With more severe forms of a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, a person develops a feeling of constant fear. Sometimes the presence of phobias in patients can be established from early childhood, then it is easier to cure them. Most often it is fear of height, water, darkness and animals. In the adult state, people may also have fear of responsibility, a depressing sense of inadequacy of their position, and so on. Restoration of normal functions of the autonomic nervous system is a long and complex process. The most important problem is the patient's refusal to admit that something is wrong with him. In this case, the cure will be simply impossible.