autonomic nervous system

noun

: a part of the vertebrate nervous system that innervates smooth and cardiac muscle and glandular tissues and governs involuntary actions (such as secretion and peristalsis) and that consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

Examples of autonomic nervous system in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Scientists found that hearing an infant in distress activates the autonomic nervous system—the body's unconscious control system for functions like breathing and digestion—causing our faces to literally get hotter. Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 Consequently, negative adaptation to training stress may involve the autonomic nervous system and result in an altered heart rate. Jeff Gaudette, Outside, 5 Sep. 2025 This part of the autonomic nervous system is activated by the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the heart and other organs. Md Published, Verywell Health, 20 Aug. 2025 Several months later, she was finally diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a disorder involving the autonomic nervous system that causes rapid heartbeat, nausea, brain fog, fainting, and fatigue. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 20 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for autonomic nervous system

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of autonomic nervous system was in 1898

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Cite this Entry

“Autonomic nervous system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomic%20nervous%20system. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

autonomic nervous system

noun
: the part of the vertebrate nervous system that controls involuntary actions (as heart rate and breathing) and that is made up of the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system

Medical Definition

autonomic nervous system

noun
: a part of the vertebrate nervous system that innervates smooth and cardiac muscle and glandular tissues and governs involuntary actions (as secretion, vasoconstriction, or peristalsis) and that consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

called also vegetative nervous system

compare central nervous system, peripheral nervous system

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