The neurotransmitter for the parasympathetic nervous system is acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine plays a crucial role in transmitting signals between nerve cells. In the context of the parasympathetic nervous system, it is released by the postganglionic neurons to act on target organs, promoting activities such as decreased heart rate, increased digestive activity, and relaxation responses. This neurotransmitter helps to maintain the body’s rest-and-digest functions, balancing the more aggressive fight-or-flight responses of the sympathetic nervous system. Understanding this neurotransmitter’s role is key to grasping how our autonomic nervous system maintains homeostasis.