ANS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ANS mean? 

• ANS (noun)
  The noun ANS has 1 sense:

1. the part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands

  Familiarity information: ANS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ANS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

ANS; autonomic nervous system

Hypernyms ("ANS" is a kind of...):

neural structure (a structure that is part of the nervous system)

Meronyms (parts of "ANS"):

autonomic ganglion (any of the ganglia of the autonomic system whose unmyelinated fibers innervate the internal organs)

sympathetic nervous system (originates in the thoracic regions of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the parasympathetic: reduces digestive secretions; speeds the heart; contracts blood vessels)

parasympathetic; parasympathetic nervous system (originates in the brain stem and lower part of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system: stimulates digestive secretions; slows the heart; constricts the pupils; dilates blood vessels)

Holonyms ("ANS" is a part of...):

nervous system; systema nervosum (the sensory and control apparatus consisting of a network of nerve cells)

 Context examples 

Malignant growth of cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS)or Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), without specification as to location

(Malignant Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

One part of the ANS helps the body rest, relax, and digest food and another part helps a person fight or take flight in an emergency.

(ANS, NCI Dictionary)

Also called ANS and autonomic nervous system.

(Involuntary nervous system, NCI Dictionary)

Also called ANS and involuntary nervous system.

(Autonomic nervous system, NCI Dictionary)

N. asteroides is naturally found in soil, ans lake and marine sediment where it digests plant matter; but in humans it is an opportunistic pathogen and one of the causative agents of nocardiosis in immunocompromised individuals.

(Nocardia asteroides, NCI Thesaurus)