Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or controlled by the autonomic nervous system: Describes bodily functions or processes that occur involuntarily and are regulated automatically by the nervous system, such as heartbeat, digestion, and breathing.
   • Self-governing or independent: In a broader biological or technical sense, it can describe systems or functions that operate independently without conscious control.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Heart rate and digestion are under autonomic control.
  • The patient exhibited an abnormal autonomic response to stress.
  • The autonomic reflexes were tested by the neurologist.

Advanced Usage

• "autonomic dysfunction": A medical condition where the autonomic nervous system does not work properly, leading to problems with regulating bodily functions.
  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a form of autonomic dysfunction.
• "autonomic ganglia": Clusters of nerve cell bodies that are part of the autonomic nervous system's pathways.
  • The signal passes through the autonomic ganglia before reaching the organ.

Variants and Related Words

• Autonomically (adverb): In an autonomic manner; relating to the autonomic nervous system.
  • The function is regulated autonomically.
• Autonomic nervous system (ANS) (noun phrase): The part of the nervous system responsible for control of involuntary bodily functions. (Note: This is a compound term listed separately as per instructions).
• Autonomy (noun): The quality or state of being self-governing. (This is a related but distinct concept, often used in political or personal contexts).

Synonyms

• Involuntary: Not under conscious control.
• Automatic: Operating by itself without conscious thought.
• Vegetative: Pertaining to involuntary bodily functions (used in specific medical contexts like "vegetative state").

Antonyms

• Voluntary: Done by conscious choice or under conscious control.
• Somatic: Relating to the voluntary control of body movements via skeletal muscles (as in the somatic nervous system).

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Sympathetic nervous system: A division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'fight or flight' response.
• Parasympathetic nervous system: A division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for 'rest and digest' functions.
• Homeostasis: The body's automatic process of maintaining a stable internal environment, largely regulated by the autonomic nervous system.

Adjective

1. relating to or controlled by the autonomic nervous system
   • autonomic reflexes