Final answer:
The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary actions involving cardiac, smooth muscles, and glands, while the somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary skeletal muscle movements. They differ in their neuron pathways, target tissues, neurotransmitters, and types of response (excitatory or inhibitory).
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the differences between the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the somatic nervous system (SNS). The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary actions, targeting cardiac and smooth muscles, as well as glandular tissues. In contrast, the somatic system facilitates voluntary movements by controlling skeletal muscles. The autonomic nervous system uses a two-neuron pathway involving a preganglionic neuron synapsing with a postganglionic neuron, with the latter innervating the target organ. ANS neurotransmitters can be norepinephrine or acetylcholine, depending on whether the sympathetic or parasympathetic system is activated, respectively. In contrast, the somatic system typically uses acetylcholine to initiate muscle contractions. Autonomic motor activity can be either excitatory or inhibitory, based on the division engaged and the target organ, while somatic activation results primarily in muscle contraction.