What is vegetative nerve

The vegetative or autonomic nerves, which are regulated by the cerebral cortex through the hypothalamus, brainstem and spinal cord, can innervate the smooth muscles and secretory glands of the body, regulate the physiological activities of the internal organs, maintain the balance of the body’s internal environment and cooperate with the somatic nerve activities of the whole body, and are an integral part of the entire nervous system. The vegetative nervous system, the autonomic nervous system, is divided into two major parts: central and peripheral. The central part includes the cortex, hypothalamus, brainstem nuclei and lateral horn of the spinal cord; the peripheral part includes sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia, preganglionic and postganglionic fibers, and visceral ganglia, which can innervate the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary, reproductive and other internal organs, and can manage physiological functions such as heartbeat, respiration, digestion, blood pressure, etc., so that the body’s absorption, metabolism, endocrine and fluid circulation functions can function normally. The functional activity of the cerebral cortex will indirectly affect the function of the vegetative nerves, for example, insufficient blood supply to the brain will result in digestive symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, as well as autonomic symptoms such as panic and shortness of breath, and may be accompanied by altered secretion of the sweat glands.