The Somatic Nervous System is described as:

• A. A network of nerves that carry sensory information to the CNS and motor information from the CNS.
• B. A system that regulates internal organs automatically.
• C. A system that controls the endocrine system.
• D. A network of nerves only within the brain.

Answer: (A)

The somatic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that handles communication between the senses and the muscles under voluntary control. It carries sensory information from receptors in the skin, muscles, and joints to the central nervous system and sends motor commands from the central nervous system to skeletal (voluntary) muscles, enabling deliberate movement. This differs from the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary bodily functions like heartbeat and digestion. It also isn’t about the endocrine system, which uses hormones for communication, and it isn’t confined to the brain; it includes peripheral nerves that extend to the rest of the body.