Answer
Another name for the visceral motor nervous system is the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
The two subdivisions are the sympathetic division, which is in charge of arousal and the “fight or flight” response, and the parasympathetic division, which is in charge of calming/relaxation and the “rest and digest” response.
Work Step by Step
Since the visceral motor nervous system is involuntary and does its own thing by itself, it’s considered autonomic (auto “self” and nom “governance”).
The two extremes of the ANS is aroused and relaxed. The aroused state is the sympathetic division. When the sympathetic division is activated, heart rate increases, bronchioles dilate, and digestion is inhibited. This prepares the body for a “fight or flight” response.
When the relaxed parasympathetic division is activated, heart rate decreases and digestion is stimulated. The parasympathetic response is called the “rest and digest” response.
