What is the primary system responsible for controlling skeletal muscles?

The primary system responsible for controlling skeletal muscles is the somatic nervous system. This system is a part of the peripheral nervous system and specifically manages voluntary movements by innervating skeletal muscles. When you want to move a muscle, your brain sends signals through the somatic nervous system to the specific skeletal muscles, allowing precise and coordinated movements, such as walking, typing, or playing a musical instrument.

The central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, processes information and gives rise to control signals but does not directly interact with the muscles. The sympathetic nervous system primarily governs involuntary functions such as the fight-or-flight response, while the peripheral nervous system covers a broader range of functions, including sensory and motor pathways, and is not limited to the control of skeletal muscle. Thus, the somatic nervous system is clearly the one that carries out the motor commands necessary for voluntary muscle action.