BRAINCAKESympathetic Nervous System
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for action in stressful or dangerous situations: the 'fight or flight' response. It is most active during exercise, stress, fear and excitement.
Its preganglionic neurones leave the spinal cord from the thoracic and lumbar regions. They are short and synapse in ganglia that lie close to the spinal cord, in a chain on either side of it. The postganglionic neurones are long and run from these ganglia to the effectors. At most effectors the postganglionic neurone releases noradrenaline.
Effects of sympathetic stimulation include:
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Key terms in this lesson
- noradrenaline
- A neurotransmitter and hormone, chemically similar to adrenaline, released by sympathetic neurones, that generally speeds up the body's activity.
More in Mammalian Nervous System
- Major Areas of the Brain
- Other Areas of the Brain
- Spinal Cord
- Reflex Responses
- Peripheral Nervous System
- Voluntary Nervous System
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Parasympathetic Nervous System
All 38 lessons in Mammalian Nervous System · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics