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parasympathetic

parasympathetic

1 7.9
Related to the part of the nervous system that helps the body rest and digest
  • adjective
  • /ˌpærəˈsɪmpəˌθɛtɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : parasimpático
  • After a stressful day, I turn to meditation to stimulate my parasympathetic response and promote healing.
  • parasympathetic nervous
  • parasympathetic nervous system
  • parasympathetic tone

So one, it is activating our parasympathetic system, which is our rest and digest system.

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Examples

  • Salivary secretion is regulated by either sympathetic or parasympathetic stimulation, with the latter exhibiting a more dominant influence.

    Academic text (2006)
  • That'll trigger a parasympathetic response in your body to calm you down.

  • It's the parasympathetic nervous system.

  • You have parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, OK, that are triggered within the body.

  • So I need to get myself back into that calm parasympathetic mindset so that my body can heal and recover.

  • Previous studies have shown that HRR is a good marker of parasympathetic activity.

    Academic text (2007)
  • So one, it is activating our parasympathetic system, which is our rest and digest system.

  • When the threat dissipates, the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in, triggering the relaxation response and returning hormones to normal levels.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems act in balancing the stresses that assail the physical body, both externally and internally.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Engaging in deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you feel more relaxed.

Antonyms

sympathetic
  • Specialized
4 7.3

Relating to the body nerves that make the heart beat faster during stress

Compounds

The part of the nervous system that calms the body, slows the heart, and helps digestion

Surface Forms

parasympathetic positive

Morphology

parasympathetic = sympathetic (semi-transparent) = para + sympathetic

The prefix 'para-' clearly signals an 'alongside/opposing' relation, but the technical anatomical meaning is still specialized.

Etymology

Parasympathetic as an adjective breaks into para- 'beside' and sympathetic (like sympathy, 'feeling'), giving a simple image: it describes the 'beside' or balancing side of the nervous system that calms the body and supports rest and digestion.