Final answer:
The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary movements and reflexes via motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to skeletal muscles. It is involved in both conscious and involuntary actions, supporting every voluntary motion and certain reflex actions like quickly withdrawing a hand from a hot surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The somatic nervous system (SNS) is a division of the peripheral nervous system that plays a crucial role in controlling voluntary movements and reflexes. It includes motor neurons that carry instructions from the central nervous system (CNS) to skeletal muscles, enabling actions such as walking, talking, or playing an instrument.
The somatic nervous system is associated with activities that are typically considered conscious or voluntary; however, it also controls some involuntary actions like reflexes, which are rapid motor responses not directed by the brain and occur via a reflex arc within the spinal cord.
For example, if someone were to touch a hot surface, the somatic nervous system would facilitate the rapid withdrawal of the hand, a reflex action bypassing conscious thought. Additionally, the motor skills involved in activities requiring fine motor control, such as playing the violin or typing on a keyboard, are mastered through the somatic nervous system, which includes procedural memory for such automatic actions.