<P> The parasympathetic nervous system ( usually abbreviated PSNS , not PNS , to avoid confusion with the peripheral nervous system ) is one of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system , the other being the sympathetic nervous system . ( The enteric nervous system ( ENS ) is now usually referred to as separate from the autonomic nervous system since it has its own independent reflex activity . ) The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating the body 's unconscious actions . The parasympathetic system is responsible for stimulation of `` rest - and - digest '' or `` feed and breed '' activities that occur when the body is at rest , especially after eating , including sexual arousal , salivation , lacrimation ( tears ) , urination , digestion and defecation . Its action is described as being complementary to that of the sympathetic nervous system , which is responsible for stimulating activities associated with the fight - or - flight response . </P>
<P> The parasympathetic nervous system ( usually abbreviated PSNS , not PNS , to avoid confusion with the peripheral nervous system ) is one of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system , the other being the sympathetic nervous system . ( The enteric nervous system ( ENS ) is now usually referred to as separate from the autonomic nervous system since it has its own independent reflex activity . ) The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating the body 's unconscious actions . The parasympathetic system is responsible for stimulation of `` rest - and - digest '' or `` feed and breed '' activities that occur when the body is at rest , especially after eating , including sexual arousal , salivation , lacrimation ( tears ) , urination , digestion and defecation . Its action is described as being complementary to that of the sympathetic nervous system , which is responsible for stimulating activities associated with the fight - or - flight response . </P>
when does the parasympathetic nervous system begin to function
when does the parasympathetic nervous system begin to function
when the body is at rest
when the body is at rest