ANS
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Autonomic nervous system |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Writing & Everyday |
| Also written | ans. |
ANS has two meanings. It stands for Autonomic nervous system (anatomy) or Answer (everyday).
Meanings of ANS at a glance
| # | ANS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autonomic nervous system | Medical › Anatomy |
| 2 | Answer | Writing & Everyday › Everyday |
1. Autonomic nervous system
Medical · Anatomy Abbreviations
Part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, sweating, pupil size and bladder emptying. It has sympathetic ("fight or flight") and parasympathetic ("rest and digest") divisions, with the enteric nervous system of the gut often counted as a third.
Example: Orthostatic drops without a heart rate rise suggest ANS failure; autonomic testing ordered.
Autonomic dysfunction (dysautonomia) occurs in diabetes, Parkinson disease, multiple system atrophy, amyloidosis and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The vagus nerve carries most parasympathetic output. Many drugs act on ANS receptors, for example beta-blockers on sympathetic beta receptors and atropine on parasympathetic muscarinic receptors.
2. Answer (ans.)
Writing & Everyday · Everyday Abbreviations
Shortens "answer" in textbooks, worksheets, answer keys and notes, as in "Ans: 42." It often appears beside worked math problems.
Example: Ans. x = 7, since 3x + 4 = 25 and 3x = 21.
Answer keys in the back of textbooks often cover only odd-numbered problems, a convention that lets teachers assign the even ones for homework. Calculators have an ANS key that recalls the previous result. Interview transcripts use "Q:" and "A:" for the same purpose.
Related abbreviations
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More everyday abbreviations
- acct. – Account
- ad – Advertisement
- aka – Also known as
- amt. – Amount
- approx. – Approximately
- appt. – Appointment
- Ass'n – Association
- asst. – Assorted
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.