The Autonomic Nervous System is responsible for:

• A. A network of nerves that carry messages between the CNS and the heart, lungs and other internal organs and glands, regulating internal organs automatically without conscious thought.
• B. Voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.
• C. Processing of complex cognitive tasks in the frontal lobe.
• D. Interpreting sensory information from the skin.

Answer: (A)

The autonomic nervous system oversees involuntary regulation of internal organs, operating automatically without conscious input. It connects the brain to organs like the heart, lungs, and glands, adjusting functions to keep the body working smoothly. Its two main branches—the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems—prepare the body for action and then help it recover, such as speeding up the heartbeat and breathing during stress and slowing them down afterward. This description matches the option about a network of nerves carrying messages between the CNS and internal organs and glands, regulating them automatically without conscious thought. The other options describe voluntary skeletal muscle control, higher-level cognitive processing in the frontal lobe, or the interpretation of sensory information from the skin, which are not autonomic functions.