Which of the following is true about the autonomic nervous system?
A. It is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
B. It takes messages from the body's internal organs to the central nervous system.
C. It conveys information from the central nervous system to the skin and muscles.
D. It plays the primary role in sensory perception.
Answer (2)
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates involuntary body actions and transmits messages from internal organs to the central nervous system. Among the options provided, the correct answer is B. This system operates alongside the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions to maintain homeostasis in the body.
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The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions. It operates automatically and regulates activities such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urination, and sexual arousal.
To determine which statement is true about the autonomic nervous system, let's examine each option:
(A) It is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
This statement is incorrect. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS), not the autonomic nervous system.
(B) It takes messages from the body's internal organs to the central nervous system.
This statement has an element of truth, but it is not the primary function described. The autonomic nervous system mainly transmits signals from the CNS to internal organs, although there are sensory nerves involved.
(C) It conveys information from the central nervous system to the skin and muscles.
This statement describes the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary movements and conveys sensory and motor information between the skin, muscles, and CNS, not the autonomic nervous system.
(D) It plays the primary role in sensory perception.
This is incorrect. Sensory perception is primarily managed by the somatic nervous system as well.
The correct choice from the given options is (B), although with some consideration to its partial truth. However, none of the options fully and accurately describe the role of the autonomic nervous system. For educational purposes, option (B) is the most closely aligned with a component of ANS functionality.
