parasympathetic

par a sym pa thet ic |ˌparəˌsimpəˈTHetik ˌpærəˌsɪmpəˈθɛdɪk | ▶adjective Physiology of or relating to the part of the automatic nervous system that counterbalances the action of the sympathetic nerves. It consists of nerves arising from the brain and the lower end of the spinal cord and supplying the internal organs, blood vessels, and glands. ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from para- 1 ‘alongside ’ + sympathetic, because some of these nerves run alongside sympathetic nerves.

parasympathetic

para |sym ¦pa |thet ¦ic |ˌparəsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk | ▶adjective Physiology relating to the part of the autonomic nervous system which balances the action of the sympathetic nerves. It consists of nerves arising from the brain and the lower end of the spinal cord and supplying the internal organs, blood vessels, and glands. ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from para- 1 ‘alongside ’ + sympathetic, because some of these nerves run alongside sympathetic nerves.