Many organs are innervated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.
| Effector |
Effect of Sympathetic Innervation |
Effect of Parasympathetic Innervation |
| Cardiac muscle |
|
|
| Heart |
Increases heart rate, force of contraction, and blood pressure |
Decreases heart rate, force of contraction, and blood pressure |
| Smooth muscle |
|
|
| Eye |
Dilation of pupil; focusing for distance vision |
Constriction of pupil; focusing for near vision |
| Stomach and intestines |
Decreases peristalsis; contracts sphincters |
Increases peristalsis; relaxes sphincters |
| Lungs |
Relaxation; airway diameter increases |
Contraction; airway diameter decreases |
| Arrector pili of hair follicles |
Contraction that results in erection of hairs (“goose pimples”) |
No known effect |
| Urinary bladder |
Relaxation of urinary bladder; constricts sphincter |
Contraction of muscular wall; relaxation of internal sphincter to eliminate urine |
| Reproductive organs |
Ejaculation of semen in men |
Erection of penis (men) or clitoris (women) |
| Glands |
|
|
| Sweat |
Increases secretion |
None (not innervated) |
| Lacrimal (tears) |
None (not innervated) |
Stimulates secretion |
| Salivary |
Decreases secretion of digestive juices |
Increases secretion of digestive juices |
| Adrenal |
Secretion of epinephrine and norephinephrine by adrenal medullae |
None (not innervated) |
