What component of the nervous system is responsible for involuntary body functions?

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating involuntary body functions. This includes processes such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and reflex actions. It operates without conscious control, enabling the body to maintain homeostasis and react to environmental changes efficiently.

In contrast to the autonomic nervous system, the central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord, primarily overseeing voluntary actions and processing information. The somatic nervous system, a part of the peripheral nervous system, controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles. The peripheral nervous system encompasses all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, facilitating communication between the central nervous system and the rest of the body, but it is the autonomic nervous system specifically that manages involuntary functions vital for survival.