Question

Differentiate between the Following:

Somatic and Autonomic nervous system

Answer 1

Basis of Difference	Somatic Nervous System	Autonomic Nervous System
Control	It controls activities that are generally performed consciously and are under the control of our will.	It controls activities that occur automatically and are not under the conscious control of our will.
Organs controlled	It mainly controls skeletal muscles involved in voluntary movements such as walking, writing and running.	It controls involuntary organs such as the heart, digestive tract, glands and smooth muscles.
Nerves involved	It consists of cranial nerves and spinal nerves that connect the central nervous system with the sense organs and skeletal muscles.	It consists of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibres that regulate the internal organs.
Example	Moving the hand, playing a musical instrument or running are examples of actions controlled by this system.	Heartbeat, digestion, salivation and changes in pupil size are examples of actions controlled by this system.
Main branches	It is not divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.	It is divided into the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system, which generally have opposite effects.