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.