The autonomic nervous system is concerned primarily with the unconscious regulation of bodily functions. Both afferent and efferent nervous impulses travel in both autonomic divisions and subserve reflexes that are important to the normal function of the various systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and genito-urinary. Activity in the two divisions is often complementary. For example, as parasympathetic activity to the heart decreases, sympathetic activity increases. Changes in autonomic nervous activity occur frequently in disease processes and may be a cause, an effect or a modulating influence on the course of the disease.
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