Question

Imagine that you are talking with one of your friends about your biology course. He states that the somatic nervous system is subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic components, and is responsible for involuntary responses. Is this statement correct?

a) No, although the somatic nervous system controls involuntary responses, it is the autonomic nervous system that is subdivided into parasympathetic and sympathetic components.
b) No, although the somatic nervous system does have both sympathetic and parasympathetic subdivisions, it is responsible for voluntary responses.
c) Yes, this statement is correct. The somatic nervous system has both sympathetic and parasympathetic components and controls involuntary responses.
d) No, the somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary responses, and is not subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic components.

Answer 1

The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary responses and does not have sympathetic or parasympathetic subdivisions. Those divisions are part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions.

Step-by-step explanation:

No, the statement made by your friend is incorrect. The correct response is: d) No, the somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary responses, and is not subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic components.

The somatic nervous system (SNS) is responsible for conscious perception and voluntary motor responses, such as the contraction of skeletal muscles. It can lead to reflexive responses as well, which can occur without conscious thought. However, it does not have sympathetic or parasympathetic subdivisions; those belong to the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

The autonomic nervous system, on the other hand, controls involuntary responses and is responsible for regulating the body's internal environment without conscious control. It is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic system prepares the body for 'fight-or-flight' responses during stressful situations, while the parasympathetic system promotes 'rest-and-digest' functions during restful periods, both of which are crucial in maintaining homeostasis.

Answer 2

The correct answer is option d) "No, the somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary responses, and is not subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic components".

Step-by-step explanation:

The somatic nervous system is responsible for the control of voluntary body movements via skeletal muscles. Also, the somatic nervous system is not subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic components. This subdivision corresponds to the autonomic nervous system, the system that influences the function of internal organs. Therefore the statement of the friend was incorrect.