<P> The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system . The sympathetic division emerges from the spinal cord in the thoracic and lumbar areas , terminating around L2 - 3 . The parasympathetic division has craniosacral `` outflow '' , meaning that the neurons begin at the cranial nerves ( specifically the oculomotor nerve , facial nerve , glossopharyngeal nerve and vagus nerve ) and sacral ( S2 - S4 ) spinal cord . </P>
where does the autonomic nervous system connect to the central nervous system
spinal cord in the thoracic and lumbar areas , terminating around L2 - 3