Which statement is correct about the somatic nervous system's role?

• A. It is the involuntary portion of the PNS
• B. It is part of the CNS
• C. It coordinates autonomic functions
• D. It is the voluntary portion of the PNS

Answer: (D)

The somatic nervous system is the voluntary part of the peripheral nervous system that controls skeletal muscles and relays sensory information to the CNS. It handles deliberate movements—like lifting a hand or stepping forward—and carries signals from sensory receptors (touch, temperature, proprioception) back to the brain. Unlike the autonomic system, which regulates involuntary processes such as heart rate, digestion, and gland function, the somatic system acts under conscious control and uses a direct pathway from the CNS to skeletal muscles. It is part of the peripheral, not the central, nervous system. That’s why the correct statement identifies it as the voluntary portion of the PNS.