autonomic plexus

9.1

A network of nerves that controls body actions you do not think about, like heart rate and digestion

noun
/ɔːˈtɒnəmɪk ˈplɛksəs/

Specialized

: plexo autónomo

The autonomic plexus controls heart rate and digestion.

Examples

Damage to an autonomic plexus can lead to serious disruptions in organ regulation.
Several autonomic plexuses are found throughout the body.
Doctors studied the structure of the autonomic plexus to better understand nerve diseases.
The solar autonomic plexus plays a crucial role in controlling digestive functions.
Damage to an autonomic plexus can lead to serious disruptions in organ regulation.
The solar autonomic plexus plays a crucial role in controlling digestive functions.
Doctors studied the structure of the autonomic plexus to better understand nerve diseases.

Surface Forms

autonomic plexus singular

autonomic plexuses plural

Morphology

autonomic + plexus

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'autonomic' denotes involuntary physiological regulation and 'plexus' denotes a network of nerves/vessels, so an 'autonomic plexus' is directly interpretable as a network of autonomic nerves controlling involuntary functions. This literal, technical noun-noun composition follows regular English formation and is cross-linguistically parsable, so a learner who knows both constituents should understand the meaning.

Etymology

Autonomic plexus comes from words that make a clear picture: autonomic means 'automatic' or 'working by itself' and plexus means a braided net of nerves. Imagine that net quietly controlling breathing, digestion and other body jobs you do 'without thinking', and that's why the term means the network of nerves that controls those automatic functions.