Home › Mind maps › Nursing & Medical Concept Maps › Sympathetic vs parasympathetic concept map

Get a concept map of sympathetic and parasympathetic responses

Upload your slides, notes, PDF, or a photo of a textbook page, and DeckOwl turns it into an editable, explorable mind map of the autonomic branches you need to learn.

Create mind maps nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates mind maps in seconds

Why a concept map works for autonomic responses

Sympathetic and parasympathetic responses are easy to memorize as a list and hard to apply as a list, so a concept map of sympathetic and parasympathetic responses helps by linking each division to its effects on the heart, eyes, lungs, and digestive tract.

Divisions: sympathetic and parasympathetic, with their origins in the thoracolumbar and craniosacral outflows
Effects by organ: heart rate, pupil size, bronchiole diameter, and digestive activity
Neurotransmitters: norepinephrine and acetylcholine at the target organs
Cross-links: where the two divisions oppose each other and where they act together

Example autonomic nervous system concept map branches

Sympathetic divisionFight, flight, or stress · Thoracolumbar outflow · Norepinephrine at most target organs

Parasympathetic divisionRest and digest · Craniosacral outflow · Acetylcholine released at target organs

Heart rateSympathetic increases rate · Parasympathetic via the vagus nerve decreases rate

PupilsSympathetic dilates the pupil · Parasympathetic constricts the pupil

DigestionParasympathetic increases motility and secretion · Sympathetic slows digestion and diverts blood flow

Generate the full set

Editable branches

Rename, move, or add nodes so the map matches how your instructor framed the autonomic nervous system.

Explorable structure

Expand and collapse branches to move from the two divisions down to individual organ effects.

Built from your material

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, notes, or photos of pages, and get a map drawn from that content.

How it works

Upload your source

Add lecture slides, notes, a PDF chapter, or a photo of the page you are studying.

Generate the map

DeckOwl drafts the branches for the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, with their effects on each organ.

Edit and study

Adjust nodes to match your course, then explore the map branch by branch in your browser.

DeckOwl builds the map from your own material. A mind map uses the same branching structure as a concept map, so upload your lecture PDF, slides, or notes and the AI draft places the main branches as editable nodes. You can rearrange them to match your course, collapse the parts you already know, and drill into the ones you do not.

Explore related topics

Best Concept Map for Nursing Students

Turn your own nursing notes into an editable map of conditions, drugs, and symptoms.

Blank Concept Map for Nursing Students

Skip the blank page. Build an editable nursing mind map from your own notes or PDFs.

Anatomy Concept Maps from Your Notes

Turn anatomy notes or textbook PDFs into an editable, explorable concept map.

A&P Concept Map Generator

Turn A&P notes or PDFs into an editable, explorable concept map.

ATI Concept Maps From Your Notes

Turn your nursing notes or PDFs into an editable ATI-style concept map with AI.

ATI Concept Map Template from Your Notes

Turn your own ATI PDFs or notes into an editable, explorable concept map in minutes.

Brain Regions Concept Map

Turn your anatomy notes into an editable mind map of the brain's major regions and their functions.

Brain Regions Concept Map Generator

Turn brain region notes into an editable, explorable concept map with AI.

Frequently asked questions

What should a concept map of sympathetic and parasympathetic responses include?

Include the two divisions, their anatomical origins, the target organs with each division's effect, and the neurotransmitters involved. Add cross-links where the divisions oppose each other, and check that each node matches your course text.

How do I remember which responses are sympathetic and which are parasympathetic?

Group effects by overall state: sympathetic covers fight, flight, or stress, such as a faster heart rate and dilated pupils, while parasympathetic covers rest and digest, such as a slower heart rate and increased gut motility. Redraw the map from memory and check the gaps.

Can DeckOwl turn my notes into a concept map?

DeckOwl generates an editable, explorable mind map from PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes, or photos of pages, and the branching structure works the same way a concept map does.

Is there a free plan?

Yes, the free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, and you do not need a credit card to start. Exports are included on paid plans.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.