Question

How are the somatic and autonomic nervous systems similar?

Answer 1

The nervous system is one of the most important systems in the human body that sends information from one part of the body to another because this system can control and coordinate both our movements and actions. The Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System are the main two parts of the nervous system.

Complete answer:
-The somatic nervous system is associated with skeletal muscle, voluntary control of body movements and it consists of afferent and efferent nerves. The somatic nervous system consists of two parts; Spinal nerves and cranial nerves
-Spinal nerves are peripheral nerves which carry sensory information into the spinal cord and motor command out of the spinal cord. Cranial nerves are nerve fibres that carry information into and out of the brain stem.
-The autonomic nervous system is called an involuntary nervous system which consists of a pair of chains of ganglia and nerves. These ganglia and nerves are found on either side of the backbone which controls the involuntary actions of the organs of the body.
-It is again divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Sympathetic nervous system heightens the activity of an organ as per the need. The body's fight or flight response is stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system.
-The parasympathetic nervous system will slow down the activity of an organ calming effect and executes actions that do not require an immediate response. The body to "rest-and-digest" is stimulated by the parasympathetic nervous system.

Note: Central Nervous System consists of the Brain and Spinal Cord. Find more about the human brain in the related posts. Peripheral Nervous System includes the 12 pairs cranial nerves coming from the brain and the 31 pairs spinal nerves coming from the spine.
The peripheral nervous system is composed of the Autonomic nervous system and Somatic Nervous System. The Sympathetic nervous system and Parasympathetic nervous system comes under the autonomic nervous system.