Which part of the peripheral nervous system controls internal organs and involuntary actions?

Which part of the peripheral nervous system controls internal organs and involuntary actions?

• A. Autonomic nervous system
• B. Somatic nervous system
• C. Central nervous system
• D. Enteric nervous system

Answer: (A)

The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that governs internal organs and involuntary actions. It operates without conscious control, regulating functions like heart rate, digestion, respiration, and pupil dilation. It has two main branches—sympathetic and parasympathetic—that balance arousal and relaxation to keep the body in homeostasis. The somatic nervous system handles voluntary movement of skeletal muscles and conscious sensation, so it isn’t about automatic organ regulation. The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) processes information and sends commands but isn’t the part of the peripheral system that directly manages involuntary organ functions. The enteric nervous system manages much of the gut’s activity and can operate independently, but it is typically viewed as part of the autonomic system’s broader control of internal organs.

The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that governs internal organs and involuntary actions. It operates without conscious control, regulating functions like heart rate, digestion, respiration, and pupil dilation. It has two main branches—sympathetic and parasympathetic—that balance arousal and relaxation to keep the body in homeostasis.

The somatic nervous system handles voluntary movement of skeletal muscles and conscious sensation, so it isn’t about automatic organ regulation. The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) processes information and sends commands but isn’t the part of the peripheral system that directly manages involuntary organ functions. The enteric nervous system manages much of the gut’s activity and can operate independently, but it is typically viewed as part of the autonomic system’s broader control of internal organs.