FUNCTIONAL-ANATOMY OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS-S YSTEM

The autonomic nervous system consists of three parts. Besides the symp athetic and parasympathetic divisions, the enteric nervous system has to be considered as an entity sui generis. All three divisions are org anized in an afferent-efferent manner. The autonomic nervous system co ntains both peripheral and central neural structures. There exist exte nsive interconnections with the endocrine and immune systems. By virtu e of these functional organisation and interconnections, the autonomic nervous system is one of the key regulators of organ functions and ho meostasis.