Which division of the PNS is responsible for voluntary movements by controlling skeletal muscles?

The somatic nervous system is the division of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that is directly responsible for voluntary movements by controlling skeletal muscles. It consists of sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the limbs and organs. The motor pathways of the somatic nervous system help transmit the impulses from the brain and spinal cord to skeletal muscles, enabling conscious control over movements such as walking, writing, or playing a musical instrument.

This system is characterized by its ability to mediate actions we can consciously regulate, as opposed to the autonomic nervous system, which manages involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate without conscious effort. Thus, the distinction between these systems is crucial in understanding how our body executes both voluntary and involuntary tasks.