Which system controls voluntary movements?

The somatic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that specifically controls voluntary movements. It is responsible for the transmission of sensory and motor signals between the central nervous system and the skeletal muscles. When you decide to move a muscle, such as raising your hand, the somatic nervous system relays the appropriate signals from the brain to the muscles involved in that movement.

This system encompasses motor neurons that are under conscious control, allowing for intentional actions like walking, running, or writing. In addition to muscle movement, the somatic nervous system also plays a role in processing sensory information from external stimuli, enabling the coordination of movement with sensory feedback.

In contrast, the central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, which processes information but does not directly control voluntary movements. The peripheral nervous system is a broader term that encompasses all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, which includes both the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system, meanwhile, regulates involuntary functions such as digestion and heart rate, which are not under conscious control. Thus, it is the somatic nervous system that specifically manages voluntary motor functions.