Which part of the nervous system controls voluntary muscle movements?

The correct answer focuses on the role of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) in controlling voluntary muscle movements. The PNS includes all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for connecting the central nervous system to the limbs and organs. Specifically, it encompasses the somatic nervous system, which is a component of the PNS that directly oversees voluntary movements by transmitting signals from the central nervous system to skeletal muscles.

When you decide to move a muscle, for instance, to raise your arm, the brain sends impulses through the spinal cord and into the peripheral nerves, which then reach the muscles, prompting them to contract and produce movement. This ability to consciously control muscle movements is crucial for a range of activities like walking, running, and fine motor skills.

The other systems mentioned, while important in their own right, serve different functions. The Central Nervous System (CNS), which comprises the brain and spinal cord, is where the sensory information is processed and where decisions about voluntary movements are made. The Sympathetic and Autonomic Nervous Systems are primarily involved in involuntary processes, such as regulating heart rate and digestion, and do not control voluntary muscle movements.