Autonomic Nervous System: Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology #13

Hank takes you on a tour of your two-part autonomic nervous system. This episode explains how your sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system work together as foils, balancing each other out. Their key anatomical differences - where nerve fibers originate and where their ganglia are located - drive their distinct anatomical functions, making your sympathetic nervous system the "fight or flight" while your parasympathetic nervous system is for "resting and digesting."

Pssst... we made flashcards to help you review the content in this episode! Find them on the free Crash Course App!

Chapters:
Introduction: Autonomic Nervous System 00:00
Sympathetic & Parasympathetic Nervous Systems 1:35
Origins - Comparing the Sympathetic & Parasympathetic Nervous Systems 3:23
Ganglia - Comparing the Sympathetic & Parasympathetic Nervous Systems 4:11
Axon Lengths - Comparing the Sympathetic & Parasympathetic Nervous Systems 5:30
Review 7:35
Credits 8:28

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[Fugate]

When I get through med school, I'm definitely donating to this channel. It has helped me significantly.

[kathryncoogan]

I have never enjoyed Anatomy and Physiology as much as I do when I watch Crash Course. Hank cracks me up and puts things in such a way that I completely understand it. I actually stopped reading my chapters first, and instead I watch his videos several times first before going through the book. When I read something I don't understand, I watch Crash Course and then completely get it. Crash Course is going to help me graduate in time... and as a single mom and full time student, that's huge. And while I am working my way to graduation.. I am smiling and laughing.. because Hank is literally hilarious. He makes me smile. Thanks Crash Course!

[edretheria]

Why did it take him 8 minutes to explain what took 2 hours for my professor to explain 😂

[margaretstiker]

Can we all just appreciate that he said "I recognize that this is confusing". When was the last time you heard that from a teacher

[jamaljebreal]

this guy shud have like 20 million views, he is on spot.

[latioswarshowdown]

Hank is underrated people say he is reading a script and while thats quite true the way he presents the data is because he understands it and the analogys he gives is something a bit too good to say he is just acting in reality he is just better than most professors and his glasses and the way he is shows and how he talks is proof enough he was the social nerd that everyone asked for help in school

[csen]

I just realized you're John Green's brother...wow...these crash courses are really helping!!

[pantel]

I'm in med school right now - and I love you

[briannacamp]

It would be so awesome if you could mention Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (a form of Dysautonomia) or Dysautonomia in general in one of your videos. It needs more awareness and is often found in younger people. Thanks! :)

[juliagee]

Like some other commenters I have POTS (a type of dysautonomia) and I can tell you just how important the autonomic nervous system is, because when it doesn't work it feels like your whole body is falling apart!

[PuffyWuzHere]

I got an 86% on my anatomy test!! Thank you! :D Wish I saw these videos for my first anatomy test (Where I got an 53%) :(

[lilstrtrat]

JUST IN TIME FOR MY NEXT QUIZ! Thanks crash course!

[Brit]

Had a feeling id see some fellow POTSies on here! Keep fighting guys!❤️

[heavythinker]

You should start up a medical school. You teach way better than my teachers there.

[BadWolfEellin]

I have an autonomic nervouse system disorder, so I love having this wonderful video to help people understand what it means.

[enigmanonymous]

Will you explain how disautonomia (?) works? I have POTS (a form of disautonomia) and I don't quite get how it works. Great video as usual!

[mahogatstfm]

Anyone else here struggling through Anatomy and Physiology? 😂

[anerischultz]

I can't tell you how helpful all your videos have been. I always watch the video first before class and it is so much easier to understand what the professor is saying, plus it really helps studying for tests and finals. Thank you crash course! wouldn't be this far in college without you!

[adriennebaltierrez]

Everytime I watch this videos I have a huge smile on my face because these videos are so funny.

[Abraham-vojy]

This video literally simplified and made this topic so much more understandable than my textbook! Gonna do a lot better on this test because of this! Thank you!!!