Nerves · Nervous System · Easy
Parasympathetic
Meaning: Describing the division of the autonomic nervous system that promotes rest, digestion and slowing of the heart.
In practice: The vagus nerve carries most of the body's parasympathetic outflow.
Word parts
- para- means beside or near
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related nerves words.
Which word means: A branch of the ophthalmic nerve supplying the eyeball, cornea and skin of the tip of the nose.
Answer: Nasociliary
Which word means: Describing the branches of the vagus nerve supplying the voice box, including the recurrent one.
Answer: Laryngeal
Words like parasympathetic come up in the daily game
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