What organ controls the autonomic nervous system?
The sensory (afferent) division consists of nerve fibers that convey impulses to the CNS from receptors located in various parts of the body. The motor (efferent) division consists of nerve fibers that convey impulses from the CNS to effector organs, the muscles and glands. The motor division has two subdivisions: • Somatic nervous system (voluntary) allows us to have voluntary control over our skeletal muscles. • Autonomic nervous system (involuntary) controls the heart, glands and smooth muscles of the body and plays a major role in regulating unconscious functions. It works together with the endocrine system to control the secretion of hormones and is itself controlled by the hypothalamus. The autonomic system also has two subdivisions with antagonistic functions: • The sympathetic system prepares the body for fight-or-flight reactions. Its actions result in accelerated heart rate, increased blood pressure and blood flow toward the brain, heart and skeletal muscles. It also causes a
