Abstract
Blessing maps the autonomic nervous system — how sympathetic and parasympathetic branches reach organs and glands, and why that anatomy matters when body states feel mysterious.
Blessing, W. W. (1997). Autonomic dysfunction (pp. 1–22). Blackwell Science. DOI
Key findings
- Dual branches — The ANS runs sympathetic (mobilise) and parasympathetic (recover) lanes — often both active in different targets at once, not a simple on/off switch.
- Organ targets — Each branch has characteristic targets — heart, gut, pupils, sweat — so somatic clues can point to which lane is dominant.
- Central relays — Brain-stem and hypothalamic relays coordinate autonomic output — body state is wired, not purely psychological.
- Clinical map — Autonomic dysfunction reads clearer when you know which pathway is involved — anatomy first, label second.
Limits
Short textbook chapter — structural reference, not a behavioural trial or modern neuroimaging atlas.