Functional anatomy of autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system consists of three parts. Besides the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, the enteric nervous system has to be considered as an entity sui generis. All three divisions are organized in an afferent-efferent manner. The autonomic nervous system contains both peripheral and central neural structures. There exist extensive interconnections with the endocrine and immune systems. By virtue of these functional organisation and interconnections, the autonomic nervous system is one of the key regulators of organ functions and homeostasis.