Bladder, autonomic regulation

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), also known as the visceral or involuntary nervous system, functions below the level of consciousness. Because it innervates cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and various endocrine and exocrine glands, this nervous system influences the activity of most of the organ systems in the body. Therefore, it is evident that the ANS makes an important contribution to the maintenance of homeostasis. Regulation of blood pressure gastrointestinal responses to food contraction of the urinary bladder focusing of the eyes and thermoregulation are just a few of the many... 

In the peripheral nervous system, norepinephrine is an important neurotransmitter in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic system. Sympathetic nerve transmission operates below the level of consciousness in controlling physiological function of many organs and tissues of the body. The sympathetic system plays a particularly important role in regulating cardiovascular function in response to postural, exertional, thermal, and mental stress. With sympathetic activation, the heart rate is increased, peripheral arterioles are constricted, skeletal arterioles are dilated, and the blood pressure is elevated. In addition, sympathetic nerve stimulation dilates pupils inhibits smooth muscles of the intestines, bronchi, and bladder and closes the sphincters. Sympathetic signals work in balance with the parasympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system to maintain a stable internal environment. 

The nervous system (Fig. 1) consists of the central nervous system (CNS with brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral system (with afferent sensory and efferent motor nerves), which regulate all aspects of bodily function and is staggering in its complexicity. Another distinction is between the somatic (sensoric system, innervation of skeletal muscles) and the autonomic nervous system (heart and blood circulation respiration motility of the gastrointestinal tract, smooth muscles of gall and urinary bladder, ureter, uterus, secretion of glands). The autonomic nervous system is further divided into a sympathetic and... 

The autonomic nervous system—also known as the visceral system— involuntarily regulates smooth muscles and glands including the heart, respiratory system, GI tract, peristalsis (digestion), bladder, and eyes. 

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