Which division of the peripheral nervous system controls skeletal muscles?

The somatic nervous system is responsible for controlling skeletal muscles, which are the muscles attached to bones and involved in voluntary movements. It consists of motor neurons that send signals from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles, enabling conscious control of activities like walking, writing, and speaking. This division allows for voluntary movement and is essential for any coordinated muscular actions.

In contrast, the autonomic nervous system mainly regulates involuntary functions, such as heart rate and digestion, and does not control skeletal muscles. The central nervous system is the overall system encompassing the brain and spinal cord, which processes information but does not directly control muscles. The sympathetic nervous system, a branch of the autonomic nervous system, specifically controls the body's fight-or-flight responses and is also not involved in the direct control of skeletal muscle movement. Thus, the somatic nervous system is the correct choice for muscle control.