autonomic (redirected from autonomic dysreflexia/hyperreflexia)

autonomic /au·to·nom·ic/ (aw″to-nom´ik) not subject to voluntary control. See under system.

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au·to·nom·ic (ôt-nmk)

adj.

1. Functionally independent; not under voluntary control.

2. Relating to the autonomic nervous system.

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auto·nomi·cal·ly adv.

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Autonomic

Refers to peripheral nerves that carry signals from the brain and that control involuntary actions in the body, such as the beating of the heart.

Mentioned in: Peripheral Neuropathy

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autonomic

[ô′tənom′ik]

Etymology: Gk, autos + nomos, law

1 having the ability to function independently without outside influence.

2 pertaining to the autonomic nervous system.

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autonomic,

n See autonomic nervous system.

autonomic drugs,

n agents that act on the autonomic nervous system.

autonomic dysreflexia/hyperreflexia

n an emergent, typically life-threatening, medical condition resulting from a dramatic increase in blood pressure occurring in individuals with traumatic lesions at or above T6. Symptoms may include a throbbing headache, blushing, chills, sweating, stuffy nose, and fidgetiness.

autonomic nervous system (ANS),

n a subdivision of the efferent peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary vital function, including the activity of the cardiac muscle, the smooth muscle, and the glands. Has two parts: the sympathetic nervous system, which accelerates heart rate, constricts blood vessels, and raises blood pressure; and the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows heart rate, increases intestinal peristalsis and gland activity, and relaxes sphincters. See also peripheral nervous system.

autonomic nervous system, fibers of, in pulp,

n.pl the nerve fibers of the sympathetic autonomic system that enter the pulp tissue and function in regulating blood flow.

autonomic symptoms,

n the indications of pathology or trauma, including paleness, sweating, blushing, dilation of pupils, irregular cardiac rhythm, and lack of bladder control.

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autonomic

not subject to voluntary control.

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autonomic craniosacral outflow

the parasympathetic nervous system includes nerve fibers in the oculomotor, facial and glossopharyngeal and vagal cranial nerves. The sacral outflow includes autonomic fibers in the ventral nerve roots of the sacral nerves.

autonomic drug

drugs that have effects similar to those of the effector agents in the two systems are called sympathomimetic and parasympathomimetic drugs.

autonomic ganglionic blocking agent

nicotine and some synthetic compounds such as hexamethonium, pentamethonium and others specifically paralyze the nerve cells in autonomic ganglia thus neutralizing the sympathetic and parasympathic postganglionic fibers that emanate from that particular ganglion.

autonomic nervous system

see autonomic nervous system.

autonomic parasympathetic effects

include constriction of the pupil and the bronchioles, increased secretory activity of glands, increased tone and motility of the gut, relaxation of the sphincters.

autonomic reflex arc

comprises the afferent fibers from sensory end organs which pass into the spinal cord via the dorsal roots, ascend through the sensory columns in the spinal cord to the hypothalamus. Efferent fibers pass from there to subhypothalamic motor levels.

autonomic sympathetic effects

include the fight-or-flight reactions of dilatation of blood vessels to muscles, constriction of others, dilatation of pupils and bronchioles, and inhibition of glandular and plain muscle activity.

autonomic thoracolumbar outflow

the sympathetic nervous system consists of neurons in the intermediolateral gray column of the thoracic and lumbar segments of the spinal cord which leave the cord in the ventral branches of thoracic and lumbar nerves. Once outside the vertebral column the neurons leave the spinal nerve and join the paravertebral sympathetic trunk to enter ganglia from which postganglionic fibers go their separate ways to effector organs.

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autonomic

adjective 1 Autonomous; self controlled; functionally independent 2 Referring to the autonomic nervous system, see there