Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What system in the human body do sensory and motor neurons belong to?

1. Central nervous system

2. Endocrine system

3. Peripheral nervous system

4. Circulatory system

The correct answer is: Peripheral nervous system

Sensory and motor neurons are essential components of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This system includes all the nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord, connecting the central nervous system (CNS) to the limbs and organs. The PNS is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the body to the CNS and conveying motor commands from the CNS to the muscles, allowing for coordinated movements and responses. Sensory neurons carry signals from sensory receptors to the CNS, enabling the perception of various stimuli such as touch, pain, temperature, and vision. Motor neurons, on the other hand, transmit signals from the CNS to effectors, which are mainly muscles and glands, facilitating voluntary and involuntary movements. The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord, processing information received from the sensory neurons and generating responses through motor neurons. However, it does not encompass the sensory and motor neurons themselves. The endocrine system is responsible for hormone production and regulation of bodily functions, whereas the circulatory system is involved in the transport of blood, nutrients, gases, and wastes throughout the body. Neither of these systems includes sensory and motor neurons, making the peripheral nervous system the correct answer.