The autonomic nervous system is one of the two systems that the body uses for communication between organs. The second system - the hormonal system (endocrine system), communicates, as the name suggests, via hormones, while the autonomic nervous system communicates via nerves. It is also referred to as the autonomic nervous system because it acts and reacts involuntarily, i.e. it is not subject to our will, but acts independently, quasi unconsciously for us and can hardly be consciously influenced by us.