ABSTRACT
The autonomic nervous system, or the involuntary nervous system, influences many of the functions of visceral organs throughout the body, and the activities of this system are coordinated with those of the somatic nervous system. The present survey will mainly include adrenergic and cholinergic functions of the autonomic nervous system, since our knowledge of the role of the “new” neuromodulators in human pathophysiology is limited. Clinical assessment of parasympathetic nervous function is difficult and has mainly been done by determination of beat-to-beat variation in heart rate and measurement of the circulating level of pancreatic polypeptide, both being under vagal control. Gastrointestinal and genital dysfunctions are relatively common in chronic liver disease. Whether these are primarily related to endocrine abnormalities or to parasympathetic neuropathy is not known. In fact, dysfunction of the parasympathetic nervous system in liver disease has never been the objective of intensive research.
