Final answer:
The primary function of the nervous system is to serve as the communication center for the body, coordinating both voluntary and involuntary actions by transmitting electrical signals through its complex network.
Step-by-step explanation:
The item that best describes the primary function of the nervous system is: A. The nervous system is the center of communication in the body. The nervous system, including both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), is responsible for extracting information from the internal and external environments using sensory receptors, processing this information, and coordinating the body's voluntary and involuntary actions through electrical signals. These signals result in responses such as muscle movement or organ function. The nervous system allows for processes such as thinking, learning, and sensing surroundings, and controls basic vital functions like heart rate and breathing.
For example, when someone needs to react quickly to avoid danger, the nervous system coordinates this rapid response by sending messages from the brain to the muscles to take immediate action. It is a complex network that includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that run throughout the body.