parasympathetic
Calms the body
Parasympathetic refers to the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body after stress—slowing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and promoting digestion.
It works opposite the sympathetic system, which triggers fight-or-flight responses.
The parasympathetic system governs "rest and digest" functions: The parasympathetic response kicked in once the danger passed.
Self-regulating without awareness
- vagusTenth cranial nerve
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- cholinergicAcetylcholine-mediated neural signaling
- ganglionPeripheral nerve cell cluster
craniosacral · vagal · neurotransmitter · innervation · bradycardia · bronchoconstriction · miosis · salivation
Tenth cranial nerve
- craniosacralRelating to skull-spine connection
- gangliaMasses of nerve tissue
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- cholinergicAcetylcholine-mediated neural signaling
nicotinic · neurotransmitter · cranial · sacral · neuromodulation · efferent · afferent · synapse
Bodily food breakdown
- salivationMouth producing digestive fluid
- lacrimationSecretion of tears
- miosisPupil narrowing response
- bronchoconstrictionAirway narrowing from muscle contraction
urination · defecation · peristalsis · vasodilation · bradycardia
State of being unwound
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- calmFree from agitation
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- anabolicBuilding complex molecules
homeostasis · restoration · regeneration · healing · sleep · rest · rejuvenation · equilibrium
Building complex molecules
- lipogenesisMetabolic fat production process
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- visceralArising from deep instinct
- regenerationBiological self-repair process
Free from agitation
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
- serenityUndisturbed mental quietude
- restCessation of activity
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
soothing · decompression · restorative · downregulation · stress-relief · breathwork · meditation · equilibrium
autonomic
Self-regulating without awareness
- vagusTenth cranial nerve
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- cholinergicAcetylcholine-mediated neural signaling
ganglion · craniosacral · vagal · neurotransmitter · innervation · bradycardia · bronchoconstriction · miosis · salivation · lacrimation
vagus
Tenth cranial nerve
- craniosacralRelating to skull-spine connection
- gangliaMasses of nerve tissue
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
cholinergic · nicotinic · neurotransmitter · cranial · sacral · neuromodulation · efferent · afferent · synapse
digestion
Bodily food breakdown
- salivationMouth producing digestive fluid
- lacrimationSecretion of tears
- miosisPupil narrowing response
bronchoconstriction · urination · defecation · peristalsis · vasodilation · bradycardia
relaxation
State of being unwound
anabolic · homeostasis · restoration · regeneration · healing · sleep · rest · rejuvenation · equilibrium · balance
anabolic
Building complex molecules
- lipogenesisMetabolic fat production process
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- visceralArising from deep instinct
calm
Free from agitation
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
- serenityUndisturbed mental quietude
- restCessation of activity
recovery · soothing · decompression · restorative · downregulation · stress-relief · breathwork · meditation · equilibrium
- autonomic systemvagus nerve, fight or flight, rest and digest, ganglia, enteric
- cholinergic systemacetylcholine, cholinergic, choline, cholinesterase, vagus nerve
- stressstress, chronic stress, acute stress, strain, stressor
- neuro termsneural, neuronal, cerebral, cortical, synaptic
- Neurophysiologyneuron, action potential, neurotransmitter, nerve impulse, presynaptic
parasympatheticsympathetic
Feeling others' emotions
sympathetic nervous system · adrenergic · thoracolumbar · fight-or-flight
parasympatheticfight-or-flight
Acute threat reaction
stress response · activated · mobilized · hyperaroused · stressed
empathy, sympathy, pathetic, sympathetic, apathetic, pathos, parasympatholytic, parasympathomimetic