Final answer:
The somatic division of the vertebrate peripheral nervous system controls striated (skeletal) muscles, which are under voluntary control unlike functions managed by the autonomic nervous system such as heart rate and digestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The somatic division of the vertebrate peripheral nervous system includes control of striated muscles. When the question asks which aspect of the body is controlled by the somatic nervous system, the correct answer is striated muscles, which are another term for skeletal muscles. These are the muscles that we control voluntarily, like the muscles in our arms and legs that allow us to walk or pick up objects.
The somatic nervous system (SNS) is distinct from the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates involuntary activities such as heart rate, digestion, and vasodilation. Therefore, control of heart rate, digestive organs, and vasodilation are all functions of the autonomic nervous system rather than the somatic nervous system.