Sympathetic Nervous System
Definition:
The sympathetic nervous system is a part of our nervous system that helps our body respond to stress or danger. It works like an alarm system. When you feel scared or excited, this system kicks in to prepare your body to react quickly.
How It Works:
- It originates from the thoracic region of the spinal cord, which is the middle part of your back. - It has opposite effects to another part of the nervous system called the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body relax and digest food. - When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, it can: - Reduce the amount of digestive juices in your stomach (this is why you might not feel hungry when you’re nervous). - Speed up your heart rate (making your heart beat faster). - Contract blood vessels (narrowing them to direct blood to essential organs).
Usage Instructions:
- Use "sympathetic nervous system" when talking about how your body reacts to stress or emergencies. - It is often discussed in science, health, or psychology contexts.
Example Sentence:
"When she heard a loud noise, her sympathetic nervous system activated, making her heart race and her palms sweat."
Advanced Usage:
In more complex discussions, you might talk about the sympathetic nervous system in relation to stress management, anxiety disorders, or the fight-or-flight response, which describes the body's automatic reaction to perceived threats.
Word Variants:
- Sympathetic (adjective): Relating to or characterized by empathy or understanding. - Sympathy (noun): Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
Different Meanings:
- "Sympathetic" can also mean showing compassion or understanding toward someone else's feelings, which is different from its scientific meaning in “sympathetic nervous system.”
Synonyms:
- For the scientific term: "fight-or-flight response," "stress response." - For the adjective: "compassionate," "understanding."
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
While there are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to the sympathetic nervous system, some related phrases include: - "Fight or flight": Refers to the instinctual response to danger, which involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. - "Get your adrenaline pumping": This means to become excited or energized, often due to the sympathetic nervous system's response.