The somatic nervous system regulates the activity of

Reinforce what youвЂ™ve learned about the nervous system by playing this BBC-produced interactive game about the nervous system. Homeostasis is a state of equilibrium, in which biological conditions (such as body temperature) are maintained at optimal levels. The two systems have complementary functions, operating in tandem to maintain the bodyвЂ™s homeostasis. The sympathetic nervous system is involved in preparing the body for stress-related activities the parasympathetic nervous system is associated with returning the body to routine, day-to-day operations. It can be further subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions ( ). The autonomic nervous system controls our internal organs and glands and is generally considered to be outside the realm of voluntary control. Each nerve is basically a two-way superhighway, containing thousands of axons, both efferent and afferent. Sensory neurons, carrying sensory information to the CNS, are afferent fibers (afferent means вЂњmoving towardвЂќ). Motor neurons, carrying instructions from the CNS to the muscles, are efferent fibers (efferent means вЂњmoving away fromвЂќ). It is involved in the relay of sensory and motor information to and from the CNS therefore, it consists of motor neurons and sensory neurons. The somatic nervous system is associated with activities traditionally thought of as conscious or voluntary. The PNS has two major subdivisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is made up of thick bundles of axons, called nerves, carrying messages back and forth between the CNS and the muscles, organs, and senses in the periphery of the body (i.e., everything outside the CNS).

The somatic nervous system regulates the activity of