The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are the sympathetic division and the parasympathetic division . The nervous system can be divided into two functional parts: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

The somatic nervous system is associated with voluntary responses (though many can happen without conscious awareness, like breathing), and the autonomic nervous system is associated with involuntary responses, such as… The somatic nervous system causes contraction of skeletal muscles.

autonomic nervous system — instrumental in homeostatic mechanisms in the body. somatic nervous system — associated with voluntary responses (though many can happen without conscious awareness, like breathing), and the autonomic nervous system is associated with involuntary. parasympathetic division — division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for restful and digestive functions. sympathetic division — division of the autonomic nervous system associated with the fight-or-flight response.

Be able to name the components that generate the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses of the autonomic nervous system; explain the differences in output connections within the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system; describe the signaling molecules and receptor proteins involved in communication within the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system.