The video provides an overview of the autonomic nervous system and its two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic division responds to stress and activates the fight or flight response, leading to various physiological changes such as dilated pupils, increased heart rate, and the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine. In contrast, the parasympathetic division promotes the rest and digest response, causing opposite effects on the organs like constricted pupils and slower heart rate. The video also delves into the anatomy and neurotransmitters involved, discussing terms like preganglionic and postganglionic neurons, adrenergic and cholinergic receptors, and the specific functions of these receptors in various organs and tissues.

Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the structure of the heart and explain how cardiac muscle is different from other musclesDescribe the cardiac cycleExplain the structure of arteries, veins, and capillaries, and how blood flows through the body