Biology STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

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Study for the Biology STAAR Test. Improve your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question is accompanied by hints and explanations. Prepare for success!

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Which part of the nervous system is responsible for sending messages to and from the central nervous system?

Somatic nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
Endocrine system
Circulatory system

The correct answer is: Peripheral nervous system

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is responsible for sending messages to and from the central nervous system (CNS), which comprises the brain and spinal cord. The PNS connects the CNS to the limbs and organs, essentially enabling communication between the body and the brain. It includes all the nerves outside the CNS, including sensory nerves that transmit information from sensory organs to the CNS and motor nerves that send commands from the CNS to the muscles and glands. The somatic nervous system, while a component of the PNS, specifically deals with voluntary movements and the relay of sensory information, rather than the broader scope of communication managed by the PNS as a whole. The endocrine system, on the other hand, is responsible for hormone secretion and regulation of physiological processes but does not directly relay messages as the nervous system does. The circulatory system transports blood and nutrients throughout the body, but it is not involved in the transmission of nerve signals. Thus, the peripheral nervous system is the correct answer for this question.