Which two divisions comprise the autonomic nervous system?

• A. Central; Peripheral
• B. Somatic; Autonomic
• C. Sympathetic nervous system; Parasympathetic nervous system
• D. Enteric; CNS

Answer: (C)

The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary bodily functions and is organized into two main functional branches that usually work in opposition to regulate organs: the sympathetic division and the parasympathetic division. The sympathetic branch readies the body for activity or stress—think increased heart rate, dilated airways, and redirected blood toward muscles—while the parasympathetic branch promotes rest and digestion, slowing the heart rate and supporting digestion and energy conservation. These two work together to maintain balance, often described as a push-pull system.

The enteric nervous system governs the GI tract and can be considered a separate subsystem within the broader autonomic framework, but the classic pairing typically emphasized in exams as the divisions comprising the autonomic nervous system is sympathetic and parasympathetic. The other listed terms (central nervous system, somatic system, or pairing enteric with CNS) do not reflect the two opposing autonomic divisions.