Sympathetic Nervous System

Synonyms

Nervous System, Sympathetic

Nervous Systems, Sympathetic

Sympathetic Nervous Systems

System, Sympathetic Nervous

Systems, Sympathetic Nervous

The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system.