title: The autonomic nervous system is not a purely efferent system.
abstract: The concept of the autonomic nervous system as purely efferent does not seem to describe satisfactorily the patterns of its actions and mobilizing mechanisms. It is herein suggested that the autonomic nervous system should be rather considered as composed of functional modules comprising the visceral afferents, the integrating centers and the visceral efferents (sympathetic and parasympathetic).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Freire-Maia
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Azevedo
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008959:Models, Neurological; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C027786:glucose receptor