OSMT (Ontario Society of Medical Technologists) Practice Exam

The autonomic nervous system:

1. Includes the sympathetic nervous system

2. Is the same as the parasympathetic nervous system

3. Includes the brain and spinal cord

4. Is responsible for voluntary movement

The correct answer is: Includes the sympathetic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system indeed includes the sympathetic nervous system, which is one of its two primary divisions, the other being the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' responses, preparing the body for stressful situations by increasing heart rate, dilating airways, and suppressing non-essential functions. Understanding this relationship is crucial, as both divisions work together to maintain homeostasis in the body by regulating involuntary bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. The other options do not accurately represent the autonomic nervous system. For example, the parasympathetic nervous system is a distinct part of the autonomic system, but they are not the same. The brain and spinal cord are components of the central nervous system, which is separate from the autonomic nervous system. Lastly, voluntary movement is under the control of the somatic nervous system, not the autonomic nervous system, which governs involuntary actions.