ENGLISH
REFERENCE

autonomic

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌɔtəˈnɑmɪk// UK //ɔːtənˈɒmɪk// au·to·nom·ic

adj. describing a system in your body that works automatically without you thinking about it. It controls things like your heartbeat and breathing.

adj. relating to the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiration. Often used in medical or physiological contexts to describe processes that occur independently of conscious will.


SIMPLE

The autonomic nervous system controls your heartbeat.

CONTEXTUAL

During a stressful situation, the autonomic system triggers a physical response that prepares the body for action.

COMPLEX

While the somatic system handles voluntary movements like walking, the autonomic system manages the internal environment, ensuring that vital organs function correctly without conscious intervention.

Origin

From autonomy + -ic.

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