Course 1: Anatomy and Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

Before interpreting Heart Rate Variability (HRV), clinicians must understand the system it measures: the autonomic nervous system.

In this foundational course of PhysioState Medicine, Dr. Lisette Portes guides healthcare professionals through the anatomy, physiology, and central organization of the autonomic nervous system, establishing the scientific basis necessary for meaningful HRV interpretation.

You will explore the three divisions of the ANS — sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric — and develop a detailed understanding of key autonomic structures and mechanisms, including the vagus nerve, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, the baroreflex, hypothalamic regulation, autonomic neurotransmission, and central autonomic integration.

The course also examines critical concepts such as resting vagal tone, autonomic regulation, allostatic load, autonomic plasticity, and the role of the ANS as the master regulator of cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, pain, and gut-brain systems.

Rather than viewing disease only through diagnosis, this course introduces a physiological framework centered on autonomic state, adaptability, and system regulation.

Designed for healthcare professionals seeking a deeper clinical understanding of HRV and autonomic physiology, this course provides the essential scientific foundation for applying HRV as a meaningful clinical tool.

Upon completing COURSE 1, clinicians will be able to describe the structure and function of the autonomic nervous system in sufficient detail to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying heart rate variability as a tool for assessing autonomic status.