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The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is a part of the Peripheral Nervous System that controls automatic (involuntary) body functions. It works without conscious thought to maintain body balance and respond to changes in the environment. The ANS has two divisions: the Sympathetic Nervous System, which prepares the body for action or stress (“fight or flight”), and the Parasympathetic Nervous System, which helps the body relax and conserve energy (“rest and digest”).