The nerves are its subjects that execute its command and turn them into actions.<\/p>\n
For instance, your brain may order your legs to start walking, but it is the nerves that “communicate” that command to your legs and get them to move.<\/p>\n
Those nerves belong to the autonomic and somatic nervous systems<\/strong>. The two are the peripheral nervous system (PNS) components<\/strong> and are of extreme importance for you.<\/p>\n In this blog post, we\u2019ll do the autonomic vs. somatic nervous system comparison to show you why they matter and how they work.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll also explore how these nervous systems impact your health and immune system and what they do to protect you from danger and pathogen intruders.<\/p>\n Uncover the battle raging within. Read the Biowars comic book for free!<\/a><\/p>\n The key difference between the autonomic vs. somatic nervous system is that the former controls involuntary movements in your body while the latter controls your voluntary actions.<\/strong><\/p>\n The autonomic nervous system is responsible for many crucial functions in your body, including:<\/p>\n On the other hand, the somatic nervous system enables you to move your muscles.<\/p>\n Both components of the PNS act as a connection between your central nervous system (CNS), i.e. the brain and the spinal cord with the rest of your body<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Sure, your brain enables you to think, move, feel, learn, remember and talk. But to perform any of the actions controlled by the boss organ and the CNS, the autonomic and somatic nervous systems are indispensable.<\/p>\n For instance, when you enjoy the taste of Reese\u2019s Peanut Butter Cups, it is the intricate system of nerves and your PNS system at work. They transmit the sensation from the taste buds to your brain in a beat, allowing you to appreciate the chocolatey-peanuty taste.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s explore each component of the PNS in greater detail to better understand their differences.<\/p>\n Meet the Bioverse characters!<\/a><\/p>\n The autonomic nervous system (ANS), as its name suggests, is a part of the PNS that works autonomously<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This means that you don\u2019t have any say whatsoever in how the ANS operates<\/strong>. It is programmed to perform specific actions by default, and you can\u2019t control it. And luckily so! We\u2019ll tell you why soon!<\/p>\n The autonomic nervous system includes three parts:<\/strong><\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s see what each of these systems is and what sets one apart from the other.<\/p>\n The sympathetic nervous system (SANS or SYNS) is part of the autonomous nervous system that acts like your body\u2019s alarm<\/strong>. It is in charge of your \u201cfight-or-flight<\/a>\u201d response.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re in danger, or you witness something stressful, the SYNS activates, and it:<\/p>\n The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS or PANS) does the exact opposite<\/strong> of the sympathetic nervous system.<\/p>\n The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are the complete opposites. What one encourages, the other inhibits!\u200b<\/p><\/div>\n It lowers your heart rate and slows down your breathing.<\/strong><\/p>\n This part of the ANS drives your body when you\u2019re resting<\/strong>. It transfers information from your sensory receptors to the big boss \u2014 the brain.<\/p>\n The parasympathetic nervous system also helps you conserve energy<\/strong>, and it kicks in after eating and digesting.<\/p>\n You can even activate it on your own by consciously focusing on your breathing and slowing it down to relax after a stressful situation.<\/p>\n The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the largest of the three components of the ANS.<\/p>\n It is in charge of your gastrointestinal tract<\/strong>, i.e. the digestive tract that travels from the mouth to the anus. The ENS controls your digestion from the moment you place a bite in your mouth and swallow it.<\/p>\n The enteric nervous system helps break down the food so that your body can absorb the healthy nutrients.<\/p>\n It is also responsible for food elimination.<\/p>\n Now, here\u2019s an interesting fact about the ENS \u2014 people often call it \u201cthe second brain\u201d or \u201cthe little brain\u201d<\/strong>! The ENS is very complex, and it contains the same neurons<\/a> as the brain<\/strong>, hence the nickname.<\/p>\n For example, when you feel butterflies in your stomach<\/strong>, that\u2019s your body\u2019s response to signals sent from the second brain!<\/p>\n Recent research<\/a> also points out the connection between your gut health and brain chemistry, suggesting your mood and emotions depend on the ENS.<\/p>\n The enteric nervous system is your second or little brain!\u200b<\/p><\/div>\n We mentioned earlier that it\u2019s a good thing you have no impact on how the autonomic nervous system works.<\/p>\n That makes sense now that you\u2019re familiar with some of the functions it regulates, like breathing, your fight or flight response, your digestive system and even your emotions!<\/p>\n Moreover, the ANS is responsible for your<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Aside from the heart and the lungs, the autonomic nervous system also regulates other internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, genitals, bladder, intestines and blood vessels<\/strong>.<\/p>\n It is also in charge of the digestive, salivary and sweat glands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Imagine you had to think about and regulate all of these functions consciously?!<\/p>\n Discover more interesting facts about your body!<\/a><\/p>\n When you get injured, sick, or catch an infection, the central nervous system, which regulates your immune system, uses the autonomic system, i.e. the sympathetic nervous system to control your body\u2019s inflammatory and immune responses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Inflammation<\/strong> is a process during which the immune system cells, such as B-Cells<\/a>, T-Cells and NK Cells<\/a> respond to a threat and attack viruses and bacteria<\/strong>.<\/p>\n For example, when you scrape your knee, the body\u2019s inflammatory response makes your knee red and swollen.<\/p>\n Once activated, the PSNS releases neurotransmitters<\/strong>, i.e. chemicals your neurons use to communicate.<\/p>\n Each neurotransmitter then binds to an appropriate receptor on the immune cells\u2019 surface<\/strong>, and that\u2019s when the immune system initiates an appropriate response to a threat.<\/p>\n Neurotransmitters encourage B-Cells to mature ASAP<\/strong> so they can generate antibodies to fight intruders.<\/p>\n Moreover, the vagus nerve, a.k.a., the vagal nerves \u2014 the main nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system<\/strong> \u2014 participate in the activation of the immune response. They transmit signals to the brain that something\u2019s wrong.<\/p>\n Once the brain processes the signals, the vagal nerves initiate the mission to prevent the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines \u2014 proteins that encourage the growth and activation of the immune cells; they are mostly made by macrophages<\/a> and fibroblasts<\/a>.<\/p>\n This response of the vagal nerves is called inflammatory reflex<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The reason the vagal nerves work on preventing the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines is to ensure the inflammation in the body doesn\u2019t become too strong<\/strong> and stop the so-called cytokine storm from happening.<\/p>\n Cytokine storm<\/strong> is a dangerous condition where the body makes too many cytokines. As a result of the cytokine overproduction, immune cells continuously flood the place of injury, which can result in organ failure.<\/p>\n Luckily, in most cases, the vagus nerve inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and prevents the immune system from becoming too strong.<\/p>\n Get to know Phagien \u2014 the brave macrophage commander from the Bioverse!<\/a><\/p>\n The somatic nervous system (SONS) is the second component of the peripheral nervous system.<\/p>\n The SONS is also called the voluntary nervous system<\/strong> because it enables you to move your muscles at will.<\/p>\n The somatic nervous system consists of:<\/p>\n Sensory neurons<\/strong> carry the afferent neurons<\/strong>. These nerve cells<\/a> carry information, i.e. sensation from receptors placed throughout your body to your central nervous system.<\/p>\nAutonomic Vs. Somatic Nervous Systems At A Glance<\/h2>\n
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What Is The Autonomic Nervous System?<\/h2>\n
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What Is The Sympathetic Nervous System?<\/h3>\n
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What Is The Parasympathetic Nervous System?<\/h3>\n
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What Is The Enteric Nervous System?<\/h3>\n
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Autonomic Nervous System Function: What Does It Do For You?<\/h2>\n
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What Does The Autonomic Nervous System Have To Do With Your Immune System?<\/h2>\n
What Is The Somatic Nervous System?<\/h2>\n
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