The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a division of the peripheral nervous system that influences the function of internal organs.[1] The autonomic nervous system is a control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions such as the heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urination, and sexual arousal. This system is the primary mechanism in control of the fight-or-flight response and the freeze-and-dissociate response.[2]
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The heart is anchored to the diaphragm in order to keep it in place. The diaphragm also reduces friction to the outer membranes of the heart.
Because the heart itself needs a blood supply in order to function. If the heart is starved of its own blood - it will stop.
In order to restart the heart, from asystole, drug therapy is usually required; such as epinephrine, vasopressin, or atropine. A shock may still be applied. If the heart is in arrhythmia, it will require a shock to reset the heart. CPR will not bring the heart back to a normal rhythm, or restart the heart. CPR will circulate oxygenated blood until help arrives to administer shocks or drug therapy.
Any insufficiency in the delivery of blood to the body is fatal. Chronic insufficiency interferes with oxygen exchange in the lung, the function of the kidneys and liver function. In order to keep the blood flow to the body constant the circulatory system (heart, lung, kidney and blood vessels) work together to maintain internal oxygen concentrations within a very narrow range. The heart, as the pump, works to keep the blood pressure constant, so if the heart begins blood pressure will drop too much.
The cardiac ventricles are the two lower chambers of the heart's four chambers. They are larger and more narrowed than the atria. They function by collecting the blood that flows into them from the atria and then contract in order to expel blood into the peripheral tissues, using major vessels to carry it to the extremities and lungs.