Structure:
The sympathetic nerves, part of the peripheral
nervous system, form part of the network of nerves connecting the organ
systems with the central nervous system.
Function:
The sympathetic nerves, part of the peripheral
nervous system, enable an animal to respond to a stressful situation.
Examples are dilation of the pupil of the
eye, reducing the production of tears
by the lacrimal glands, decreasing secretions of the salivary
glands, relaxing the tubes of the respiratory
tract, speeding up the heart,
slows muscles of the digestive tract
but increases the release of glucose from the liver, relaxes the bladder,
and makes mucous secretions decrease in skin.
