Liz is a medical writer and illustrator with an MSc in Medical Art and a BA in Medical Illustration focusing on pre-medical sciences. She has worked with healthcare professionals and educators globally creating anatomically accurate learning materials.
The Autonomic Nervous System
Our bodies are made up of an incredibly complex system of “electrical wiring” composed of the nerves and neurones that send signals from different parts of our bodies to our brain. Without the nervous system, we would not be able to do any of the actions required to live.
Autonomic Nervous System Anatomy Charts for Visual Learning
Studying the structure and function of nervous system anatomy can be made much clearer with the aid of high-quality anatomical charts. Our collection of posters provides accurate, full-colour diagrams that highlight the connections between the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric divisions. Perfect for students, teachers, and healthcare professionals, these charts bring clarity to complex neurological pathways and support classroom and clinical education alike.
Nervous System Anatomy
The nervous system allows different parts of the body to communicate with each other. It is made up of the brain, spinal cord, our sensory organs and trillions of nerves. It plays a major role in controlling homeostasis, which is the process of maintaining a relatively stable internal state despite changes in environment. The nervous system is divided into two subdivisions called the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
Central Nervous System
The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS controls sensory input, information processing, and motor output.
Explore Our Nervous System Models
For a hands-on learning experience, our anatomical nervous system models allow you to examine the key elements of the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems in three dimensions. Whether you're looking at the layout of the spinal nerves, or the pathways of autonomic ganglia, these detailed models offer a clear and tactile understanding of the subject. Ideal for physiotherapists, tutors, and students preparing for exams or presentations.
Our models are carefully designed for both anatomical accuracy and durability, making them suitable for educational settings, universities, clinics, and professional environments.
Peripheral Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord. It is made up of afferent and efferent neurones. The afferent division controls sensory and visceral stimuli. The efferent division is slightly more complex, branching into the somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system controls body processes automatically. It regulates bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure. The autonomic nervous system branches into the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).
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Sympathetic Nervous System
The sympathetic nervous system is activated by the hypothalamus by sending signals to the adrenal glands through the autonomic nerves. The SNS deals with situations that require immediate reaction and triggers the “fight or flight” response. If you find yourself alert in a dangerous or stressful situation, this is your sympathetic nervous system at work, increasing your heart rate and sending blood to your muscles to help you react.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The parasympathetic nervous system is the division of the autonomic nervous system that deals with conserving energy and is often referred to as the “rest and digest” system. The parasympathetic system conserves energy by slowing down your heart rate and increasing the digestion process.
Sensory Organs
The five sensory organs include the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin, which allow us to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch respectively. These organs work with the help of sensory neurones that send impulses to our CNS, which then allows our brain to respond.
Visual Aids to better Understand Anatomy
Understanding anatomy can be far more effective with high quality visual tools. Our range of anatomical models, posters and revision guides allow students and professionals to deepen their understanding through visual and tactile learning. Whether you're preparing for an exam, teaching a class, or working in a clinical setting, our resources provide a practical and engaging way to study human anatomy.
