Question

Movement of food in the gastrointestinal tract, decreases in pupil size, and deceleration of the cardiac and respiratory rates are all directly due to proper functioning of this portion of the nervous system.

Select one:
a. somatic
b. parasympathetic
c. sympathetic
d. sensory
e. central

Answer 1

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for 'rest and digest' activities such as food movement in the gastrointestinal tract, pupil constriction, and slowing of heart and respiratory rates.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question is b. parasympathetic.

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for regulating activities in the body during restful periods. It oversees the movement of food in the gastrointestinal tract, decreases in pupil size, and the deceleration of the cardiac and respiratory rates. These functions are examples of the 'rest and digest' state that the parasympathetic nervous system promotes, as opposed to the 'fight or flight' state induced by the sympathetic nervous system.

The enteric nervous system is also related to digestion, but it is primarily involved in the local control of the gastrointestinal system and operates semi-independently from the central nervous system (CNS). However, the parasympathetic nervous system plays a crucial role in the overall regulation of digestive processes through nerves like the vagus nerve.