Preface

The autonomic nervous system is an extension of the central nervous system and connects the different organs of the body and regulates their functions. It is extremely complex, not only because of the nerves that emerge from the different segments of the spinal cord but also because of the plexuses and ganglia that connect. It is a difficult system to study due to the complexity of the nerves and the number of sympathetic, parasympathetic, or sensory fibers they contain. In addition, little is known about how peripheral diseases participate, the molecular events that are part of the molecular events used to induce peripheral diseases, and how these molecular events could alter the function of the hormonal system. Therefore, this book presents updated information on the structure, function, autonomic ganglia, and pathologies of the autonomic nervous system. This book is recommended for anyone who is studying this system and its functions.

The editors would like to express their gratitude to all the authors who contributed to this book, as well as to the staff at IntechOpen for the invitation to participate in this book project.

### **María Elena Hernández-Aguilar and Gonzalo Emiliano Aranda-Abreu**

Brain Research Institute, University of Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

Section 1
