SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does sympathetic nervous system mean? 

• SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (noun)
  The noun SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM has 1 sense:

1. originates in the thoracic regions of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the parasympathetic: reduces digestive secretions; speeds the heart; contracts blood vessels

  Familiarity information: SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Originates in the thoracic regions of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the parasympathetic: reduces digestive secretions; speeds the heart; contracts blood vessels

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("sympathetic nervous system" is a kind of...):

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

Meronyms (parts of "sympathetic nervous system"):

splanchnic nerve (any of several nerves of the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system that innervate viscera and blood vessels)

abdominal nerve plexus; coeliac plexus; plexus celiacus; solar plexus (a large plexus of sympathetic nerves in the abdomen behind the stomach)

alpha-adrenergic receptor; alpha-adrenoceptor; alpha receptor (receptors postulated to exist on nerve cell membranes of the sympathetic nervous system in order to explain the specificity of certain agents that affect only some sympathetic activities (such as vasoconstriction and relaxation of intestinal muscles and contraction of smooth muscles))

beta-adrenergic receptor; beta-adrenoceptor; beta receptor (receptors postulated to exist on nerve cell membranes of the sympathetic nervous system in order to explain the specificity of certain agents that affect only some sympathetic activities (such as vasodilation and increased heart beat))

Holonyms ("sympathetic nervous system" is a part of...):

ANS; autonomic nervous system (the part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands)

 Context examples 

A benign neuroblastic tumor of the sympathetic nervous system that occurs in childhood.

(Ganglioneuroma, NCI Thesaurus)

Guanfacine selectively stimulates alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the central nervous system, thereby resulting in inhibition of sympathetic nervous system outflow.

(Guanfacine, NCI Thesaurus)

A naturally occurring catecholamine hormone that functions as a neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system.

(l-Norepinephrine, NCI Thesaurus)

A cluster of neuronal cell bodies and their dendrites located just ventral and lateral to the spinal cord that give rise to the sympathetic nervous system.

(Para-Spinal Ganglion, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A benign or malignant neuroendocrine neoplasm of the sympathetic nervous system that secretes catecholamines.

(Adrenal Gland Pheochromocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Catecholamines are hormones and neuromodulators synthesized in the chromaffin cells of the adrenal glands and the postganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress.

(Catecholamine, NCI Thesaurus)

Natural or synthetic Alpha-adrenergic Agonists selectively bind to and activate alpha adrenergic receptors of the sympathetic nervous system, mimicking the actions of natural sympathomimetic neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and related substances).

(Alpha-Adrenergic Agonist, NCI Thesaurus)

A family of G protein-coupled receptors that bind catecholamines and play a role in the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.

(Adrenergic Receptor, NCI Thesaurus)

Natural or synthetic Alpha-adrenergic Blocking Agents selectively bind to adrenergic receptors, or compete with natural adrenergic mediators, and inactivate alpha adrenergic receptors of the sympathetic nervous system.

(Alpha-adrenergic antagonist, NCI Thesaurus)

The enteric, parasympathetic, and sympathetic nervous systems taken together.

(Autonomic nervous system, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)