Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Effects

Effects on various systems and organs:

• Eye:
  • dilation of pupil; focusing for distance vision
  • constriction of pupil; focusing for near vision
• Skin:
  • Sweat glands:
    • (S) – increases secretion
    • (P) – none (not innervated)
  • Arrector pili muscles:
    • (S) – contraction and erection of hairs
    • (P) – none (not innervated)
• Tear Glands:
  • (S) – none (not innervated)
  • (P) – secretion
• Cardiovascular System:
  • Blood Vessels:
    • (S) – vasoconstriction and vasodilation
    • (P) – none (not innervated)
  • Heart:
    • (S) – increases heart rate, force of contraction, and blood pressure
    • (P) – decreases heart rate, force of contraction, and blood pressure
• Adrenal Glands:
  • (S) – secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine by adrenal medullae
  • (P) – none (not innervated)
• Respiratory System:
  • Airways:
    • (S) – increases diameter
    • (P) – decreases diameter
  • Respiratory rate:
    • (S) – increases rate
    • (P) – decreases rate
• Digestive System:
  • General level of activity:
    • (S) – decreases activity
    • (P) – increases activity
  • Liver:
    • (S) – glycogen breakdown and glucose synthesis and release
    • (P) – glycogen synthesis
• Skeletal Muscles:
  • (S) – increases force of contraction and glycogen breakdown
  • (P) – none (not innervated)
• Urinary System:
  • Kidneys:
    • (S) – decreases urine production
    • (P) – increases urine production
  • Urinary bladder:
    • (S) – constricts sphincter and relaxes urinary bladder
    • (P) – tenses urinary bladder and relaxes sphincter to eliminate urine
• Reproductive System:
  • (S) – increases glandular secretions and ejaculation in males
  • (P) – erection of penis in males and clitoris in females