Homeostasis: The Parasympathic Nervous System

As the evolution of animals has evolved, the organization and function of internal body structures has increased in complexity. As a result, the process of homeostasis has taken the role of maintaining the body’s ability to properly function. Homeostasis is defined as a process in the body that attempts to stabilize and maintain a constant condition in a biological system by means of automatic mechanisms that work against influences leaning towards disequilibrium. This action primarily aims to preserve relative constancy in the body when severe changes occur in the external environment, as it very important for the body to maintain homeostasis in order to survive. If conditions happen to drift too far, certain biochemical reactions are ignited
Certain functions that this system regulates include heart rate, respiration, digestion, and other key functions. Given a more detailed perspective of this organ system, the Autonomic Nervous System is divided into two different components; the Parasympathetic Nervous System and Sympathetic Nervous System. The parasympathetic system nerves originate from the brain stem and the sacral portion of the spinal cord while the nerves from the sympathetic system are located by the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal
When the human body temperature exceeds a temperature of 37 C, the tiny neurons within the hypothalamus will detect the change in temperature. As a result, they respond immediately by promoting the loss of heat through sweating, and dilating the blood vessels within the skin, as they help to avoid an increase in body temperature and keep it at its standard temperature. When the body temperature loses its equilibrium, sensors in the brain work to detect the change in temperature, which continues on to help send the body the signal that a change is needed in order to standardize the body temperature back to normal. If the temperature ever drops below the average, the hypothalamus will also detect the change in temperature. The response uses a heat center, where nerves constrict blood vessels that inhibit sweating to happen so that the body can heat up. Shortly after, epinephrine is produced which helps to activate and stimulate the metabolism of the body. Due to this, the actions of nerve stimulation and tissue fat are stimulated together in order to produce internal heat that will eventually set the body temperature back to its original set point. Overall, it is inevitable that maintaining the temperature of an individual is one of the most important challenges that organisms must learn to overcome in order to