Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Which of these is not a function of the autonomic nervous system?

1. Regulating heart rate

2. Controlling skeletal muscle movement

3. Controlling glandular secretions

4. Regulating digestion

The correct answer is: Controlling skeletal muscle movement

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating involuntary body functions, such as heart rate, digestion, and glandular secretions. It operates largely below the level of consciousness and mainly controls visceral functions. Regulating heart rate is a primary function of the autonomic nervous system, specifically through the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, which modulate the heart's activity based on the body's needs. Similarly, controlling glandular secretions is an important role, as the autonomic nervous system influences various glands, such as salivary, sweat, and adrenal glands, to release their secretions when required. Regulating digestion also falls under the purview of the autonomic nervous system, with the enteric nervous system acting as a significant component that governs gastrointestinal function independently, yet it is still influenced by the autonomic branches. Controlling skeletal muscle movement, however, is not a function of the autonomic nervous system. Instead, that responsibility lies with the somatic nervous system, which governs voluntary movements and the contractions of skeletal muscles that facilitate those actions.