Having independence or freedom from control by external forces or, in a narrow sense, by the cerebrospinal nerve centers.
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au·ton·o·mous ȯ-'tän-ə-məs adj
1) of, relating to, or marked by autonomy
2 a) not forming a part (as does an embryo or seed) in the developmental sequence of an organism
b) responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole <a tumor is an \autonomous growth>
3) under control of the autonomic nervous system
au·ton·o·mous·ly adv
Medical dictionary. 2011.