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It can impair sexual arousal and shut down most non-essential functions of the body. For instance, activation of the sympathetic nervous system slows down digestion and diverts blood flow towards skeletal muscle. The autonomic nervous system can influence digestive efficiency, altering the secretion of enzymes from glands and the rate of peristaltic movement. It affects both skeletal and smooth muscle fibers across the body, whether it is changing the metabolism of glucose in skeletal muscles or causing pupil dilation in the eye. The rate of breathing can also be changed by the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, it also influences blood pressure. It can alter the force and rate of heart contractility, as well as the constriction and dilation of blood vessels.
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The autonomic nervous system controls many systems, including the cardiovascular system. Breathing is a function which can switch between the autonomic and somatic nervous systems this is why you are able to hold your breath, but also why you never have to think about breathing. Where the autonomic nervous system controls things like heart rate and digestion, the somatic nervous system controls things like muscle movements. The autonomic nervous system can be contrasted to the somatic nervous system, which is controlled voluntarily.