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Ch. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order Functions
Martini - Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology 11th Edition
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew11th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874089Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMartini, Nath, Bartholomew 11th EditionCh. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order FunctionsProblem 2
Chapter 16, Problem 2

The autonomic division of the nervous system directs
(a) Voluntary motor activity
(b) Conscious control of skeletal muscles
(c) Unconscious control of skeletal muscles
(d) Processes that maintain homeostasis
(e) Sensory input from the skin

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as a part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urination, and sexual arousal.
Step 2: Recognize that voluntary motor activity and conscious control of skeletal muscles are functions of the somatic nervous system, not the autonomic nervous system.
Step 3: Note that unconscious control of skeletal muscles is not typically a function of the autonomic nervous system, since skeletal muscles are generally under voluntary control, though some reflexes may be involuntary.
Step 4: Identify that the autonomic nervous system primarily regulates processes that maintain homeostasis, such as controlling smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands without conscious effort.
Step 5: Understand that sensory input from the skin is processed by the somatic sensory system, not the autonomic nervous system, which mainly deals with internal organ regulation.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. It operates without conscious effort and helps maintain internal balance, or homeostasis, by regulating smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, and glands.
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Somatic vs. Autonomic Nervous System

Voluntary vs. Involuntary Control

Voluntary control involves conscious movement of skeletal muscles, managed by the somatic nervous system. In contrast, involuntary control, managed by the autonomic nervous system, regulates functions that occur without conscious awareness, such as heartbeat and digestion.
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Control of the ANS Example 1

Homeostasis

Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes. The autonomic nervous system plays a key role in this by adjusting physiological processes like blood pressure and temperature to keep conditions optimal for survival.
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Introduction to Homeostasis
Related Practice
Textbook Question

The division of the ANS that prepares the body for activity and stress is the_____division.

(a) sympathetic

(b) parasympathetic

(c) craniosacral

(d) intramural

(e) somatomotor

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Textbook Question

A progressive disorder characterized by the loss of higher-order cerebral functions is

(a) Parkinson's disease

(b) Parasomnia

(c) Huntington's disease

(d) Alzheimer's disease

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Textbook Question

Effects produced by the parasympathetic branch of the ANS include

(a) Dilation of the pupils

(b) Increased secretion by digestive glands

(c) Dilation of respiratory passages

(d) Increased heart rate

(e) Increased breakdown of glycogen by the liver

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Textbook Question

The preganglionic and ganglionic neurons are missing from the diagram below showing the distribution of sympathetic innervation. Indicate their distribution using red for the preganglionic neurons and black for the ganglionic neurons.

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