Which division of the PNS controls skeletal muscles?

The somatic nervous system is the division of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that is primarily responsible for the voluntary control of skeletal muscles. This system consists of motor neurons that transmit signals from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles, allowing for conscious movements like walking, jumping, or grasping. It plays a critical role in coordinating movement and reflexive actions as well.

In contrast, the autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions, such as heart rate and digestion, and it does not control skeletal muscle movement. The sympathetic nervous system, a part of the autonomic system, specifically manages the body's fight or flight responses but does not involve voluntary muscle control. The term cranial nervous system is not typically used in this context; instead, it might refer to the cranial nerves that can include both motor and sensory functions, but they are not directly responsible for the voluntary control of skeletal muscles like the somatic nervous system is.