Name the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system.

• A. Somatic and Central
• B. Peripheral and Central
• C. Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
• D. Motor and Sensory

Answer: (C)

The autonomic nervous system coordinates involuntary bodily functions to keep things running smoothly without your conscious effort. Its two divisions balance each other: the sympathetic system readies the body for action (fight or flight), increasing heart rate and respiration, dilating pupils, and slowing digestion; the parasympathetic system promotes rest and recovery (rest and digest), slowing the heart rate, constricting airways, and enhancing digestion and energy storage. This pairing explains how the body can tighten up in a hurry and then relax after a stimuli passes. Other options refer to different parts or aspects of the nervous system—somatic relates to voluntary control and sensation, while central and peripheral describe CNS vs other parts of the body, and motor vs sensory are about function rather than the branch of the autonomic system.