Which subsystem is primarily active during 'rest and digest'?

Which subsystem is primarily active during 'rest and digest'?

• A. Parasympathetic nervous system
• B. Sympathetic nervous system
• C. Central nervous system
• D. Enteric nervous system

Answer: (A)

The rest-and-digest state is driven by the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. This branch promotes calming, energy conservation, and digestion after meals—slowing the heart rate, stimulating digestive secretions and peristalsis, and supporting nutrient storage. The sympathetic division, in contrast, gears the body up for action and stress, which is the opposite of rest and digestion. The central nervous system refers to the brain and spinal cord as the main processing system, not a specific autonomic driver of rest and digestion. The enteric nervous system manages gut activity locally within the digestive tract, but the overall rest-and-digest state is orchestrated by the parasympathetic system.

The rest-and-digest state is driven by the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. This branch promotes calming, energy conservation, and digestion after meals—slowing the heart rate, stimulating digestive secretions and peristalsis, and supporting nutrient storage. The sympathetic division, in contrast, gears the body up for action and stress, which is the opposite of rest and digestion. The central nervous system refers to the brain and spinal cord as the main processing system, not a specific autonomic driver of rest and digestion. The enteric nervous system manages gut activity locally within the digestive tract, but the overall rest-and-digest state is orchestrated by the parasympathetic system.