Question
Question: Why is the sympathetic division called the thoracolumbar division?...
Why is the sympathetic division called the thoracolumbar division?
Solution
The sympathetic nervous system is a division of the nervous system that is responsible for producing localized adjustments (such as sweating in response to a rise in temperature) and cardiovascular reflex adjustments. The sympathetic nervous system is activated during stressful situations, resulting in an immediate widespread response known as the fight-or-flight response.
Complete answer:
The autonomic nervous system regulates the body's unconsciously performed actions. The primary function of the sympathetic nervous system is to activate the body's fight or flight response. It is, however, always active at a fundamental level to maintain homeostasis. The sympathetic nervous system is antagonistic to the parasympathetic nervous system, which stimulates the body's natural healing processes.
The sympathetic division (which controls involuntary and automatic physical reactions) responds to emergencies by mobilizing and controlling the energy required to cope.
The sympathetic nervous system can increase blood pressure, raise heart rate, widen bronchial passages, decrease large intestine motility, constrict blood vessels, increase esophageal peristalsis, cause pupillary dilation, piloerection (goosebumps), and perspiration (sweating), and cause pupillary dilation, piloerection (goosebumps), and cause pupillary dilation, piloerection.
Because the preganglionic neurons are located along the spinal cord from segments T1 to L 2, or in the middle section of the length of the spinal cord, the sympathetic division is also known as the thoracolumbar division.
Thus, the sympathetic division is called the thoracolumbar division.
Note: These synapses are formed at ganglia in the sympathetic nervous system and other peripheral nervous system components. A preganglionic cell is one that sends its fiber to the ganglion, while a postganglionic cell is one that has its fiber leave the ganglion.