parasympathetic

[ par-uh-sim-puh-thet-ik ]
/ ˌpær əˌsɪm pəˈθɛt ɪk /

adjective Anatomy, Physiology,

pertaining to that part of the autonomic nervous system consisting of nerves and ganglia that arise from the cranial and sacral regions and function in opposition to the sympathetic system, as in inhibiting heartbeat or contracting the pupil of the eye.

Origin of parasympathetic

First recorded in 1900–05; para-1 + sympathetic

Words nearby parasympathetic

parastasis, parastatal, parastichy, parasuicide, parasymbiosis, parasympathetic, parasympathetic ganglion, parasympathetic nerve, parasympathetic nervous system, parasympatholytic, parasympathomimetic

Example sentences from the Web for parasympathetic

British Dictionary definitions for parasympathetic

parasympathetic
/ (ˌpærəˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk) /

adjective

anatomy physiol of or relating to the division of the autonomic nervous system that acts in opposition to the sympathetic system by slowing the heartbeat, constricting the bronchi of the lungs, stimulating the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, etc Compare sympathetic (def. 4)

Medical definitions for parasympathetic

parasympathetic
[ păr′ə-sĭm′pə-thĕt′ĭk ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or affecting the parasympathetic nervous system.

Other words from parasympathetic

par′a•sym′pa•thet′i•cal•ly adv.