Anatomy

Sympathetic Nervous System

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.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

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.

MeSH Record

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Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Nervous System, Sympathetic
  • Nervous Systems, Sympathetic
  • Sympathetic Nervous Systems
  • System, Sympathetic Nervous
  • Systems, Sympathetic Nervous

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

22 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, injuries, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

/drug eff: consider also SYMPATHOLYTICS & SYMPATHOMIMETICS; /surg: probably SYMPATHECTOMY

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. A08w.800w.050w.800w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WL 610

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Sympathetic Nervous System. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D013564. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D013564
  2. Sympathetic Nervous System. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathetic_nervous_system
  3. Sympathetic Nervous System. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q187215