Question

question 4 of 10
the parasympathetic nervous system is part of the ____ nervous system.

a. somatic

b. central

c. sympathetic

d. autonomic

Explanation:

The nervous system has two main divisions: the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is further divided into the somatic nervous system (voluntary control) and the autonomic nervous system (involuntary control). The autonomic nervous system has two subdivisions: the sympathetic (fight - or - flight) and parasympathetic (rest - and - digest) nervous systems. So the parasympathetic nervous system is part of the autonomic nervous system. Option A (somatic) is for voluntary actions. Option B (central) is the brain and spinal cord. Option C (sympathetic) is another subdivision of the autonomic, not the one the parasympathetic is part of in the sense of the main division here.

Answer:

D. autonomic