PARASYMPATHETIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does parasympathetic mean? 

• PARASYMPATHETIC (noun)
  The noun PARASYMPATHETIC has 1 sense:

1. originates in the brain stem and lower part of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system: stimulates digestive secretions; slows the heart; constricts the pupils; dilates blood vessels

  Familiarity information: PARASYMPATHETIC used as a noun is very rare.

• PARASYMPATHETIC (adjective)
  The adjective PARASYMPATHETIC has 1 sense:

1. of or relating to the parasympathetic nervous system

  Familiarity information: PARASYMPATHETIC used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PARASYMPATHETIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Originates in the brain stem and lower part of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system: stimulates digestive secretions; slows the heart; constricts the pupils; dilates blood vessels

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

parasympathetic; parasympathetic nervous system

Hypernyms ("parasympathetic" is a kind of...):

nervous system; systema nervosum (the sensory and control apparatus consisting of a network of nerve cells)

Holonyms ("parasympathetic" is a part of...):

ANS; autonomic nervous system (the part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands)

Derivation:

parasympathetic (of or relating to the parasympathetic nervous system)

• PARASYMPATHETIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to the parasympathetic nervous system

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

parasympathetic nervous system (originates in the brain stem and lower part of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system: stimulates digestive secretions; slows the heart; constricts the pupils; dilates blood vessels)

Derivation:

parasympathetic (originates in the brain stem and lower part of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system: stimulates digestive secretions; slows the heart; constricts the pupils; dilates blood vessels)

 Context examples 

An acute or chronic disorder, affecting the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system.

(Dysautonomia, NCI Thesaurus)

Homatropine methylbromide, a competitive inhibitor of acetylcholine at the muscarinic receptor, blocks parasympathetic nerve stimulation, thereby inhibiting pepsin and gastrin secretion.

(Homatropine Methylbromide, NCI Thesaurus)

A benign or malignant neoplasm arising from paraganglia located along the sympathetic or parasympathetic nerves.

(Paraganglioma, NCI Thesaurus)

A benign or malignant paraganglioma arising from sympathetic or parasympathetic paraganglia outside the adrenal gland.

(Extra-Adrenal Paraganglioma, NCI Thesaurus)

Homatropine, a competitive inhibitor of acetylcholine at the muscarinic receptor, blocks parasympathetic nerve stimulation.

(Homatropine, NCI Thesaurus)

It is characterized by damage of the sympathetic and parasympathetic and sensory nervous system.

(Familial Dysautonomia, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent also has a vagal effect on the parasympathetic nervous system, and as such slows the ventricular heart rate as well as helps eliminate fluid from body tissues.

(Digitalin, NCI Thesaurus)

A benign or malignant, usually non-functioning, extra-adrenal paraganglioma that arises from paraganglia located along the parasympathetic nerves.

(Parasympathetic Paraganglioma, NCI Thesaurus)

A benign or malignant extra-adrenal parasympathetic paraganglioma arising from paraganglia in the base of the skull and middle ear.

(Jugulotympanic Paraganglioma, NCI Thesaurus)

A benign or malignant extra-adrenal parasympathetic paraganglioma arising from paraganglia adjacent to the larynx.

(Laryngeal Paraganglioma, NCI Thesaurus)