Which part of the nervous system controls glands and the muscles of the internal organs?

• A. Central Nervous System
• B. Autonomic Nervous System
• C. Peripheral Nervous System
• D. Somatic Nervous System

Answer: (B)

The autonomic nervous system handles involuntary control of the body's internal functions, including glands and the smooth muscles of organs. It works largely outside conscious awareness to maintain balance and respond to changing conditions. Two main branches—one that readies the body for action and a counterpart that promotes rest and digestion—often have opposite effects to coordinate processes like heart rate, digestion, pupil size, and glandular secretions. This differs from the somatic nervous system, which directs voluntary movements of skeletal muscles, and from the central nervous system, which processes information but does not directly innervate these internal targets. The autonomic division, a part of the broader peripheral nervous system, is the specific pathway that controls glands and the muscles of internal organs.