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parasympathetic

 
Dictionary: par·a·sym·pa·thet·ic   (păr'ə-sĭm'pə-thĕt'ĭk) pronunciation
adj.
Of, relating to, or affecting the parasympathetic nervous system: parasympathetic activity; parasympathetic agents.

n.
  1. The parasympathetic nervous system.
  2. Any of the nerves of this system.
parasympathetically par'a·sym'pa·thet'i·cal·ly adv.

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Dental Dictionary: parasympathetic
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(par” ə-sim” pə-thet′ ik)
adj

Pertaining to the part of the autonomic nervous system that controls craniosacral activity.

Medical Dictionary: par·a·sym·pa·thet·ic
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(păr'ə-sĭm'pə-thĕt'ĭk)
adj.

Of, relating to, or affecting the parasympathetic nervous system.

par'a·sym'pa·thet'i·cal·ly adv.
Veterinary Dictionary: parasympathetic
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Pertaining to the parasympathetic nervous system.

  • p. cholinergic vasodilator fibers — cause dilatation of blood vessels in tissues including cerebral vessels, tongue, salivary glands, external genitalia, bladder, rectum.
  • p. nervous system — part of the autonomic nervous system, the preganglionic fibers of which leave the central nervous system with cranial nerves III, VII, IX and X and several sacral nerves (depending on species); postganglionic fibers are distributed to the heart, smooth muscles, and glands of the head and neck, and thoracic, abdominal and pelvic viscera. Almost three-quarters of all parasympathetic nerve fibers are in the vagus nerves, which serve both the thoracic and abdominal regions of the body.
  • — The predominant secretion of the nerve endings of the parasympathetic nervous system is acetylcholine, which acts on the various organs of the body to either excite or inhibit certain activities. For example, stimulation of the parasympathetic system causes constriction of the pupil of the eye and contraction of the ciliary muscle; increase of the glandular secretion of enzymes, as in the case of the pancreas; increased peristalsis; and a slowed heart rate. Excitation of the sympathetic nervous system often results in an effect opposite to that of the parasympathetic system; however, most organs are predominantly under the control of either one or the other of the two nervous systems that compose the autonomic nervous system.
  • p. outflow — the total of parasympathetic nerves which leave the central nervous system. Includes the cranial and sacral outflows.
WordNet: parasympathetic
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: 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
  Synonym: parasympathetic nervous system


The adjective parasympathetic has one meaning:

Meaning #1: of or relating to the parasympathetic nervous system
  Pertains to noun: parasympathetic nervous system (meaning #1)


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more