Which division of the peripheral nervous system controls voluntary actions?

The correct answer is the somatic nervous system, which is a division of the peripheral nervous system responsible for controlling voluntary actions. This system regulates the activity of skeletal muscles, allowing for conscious movements such as walking, talking, and other deliberate physical actions. Through motor neurons, it transmits signals from the central nervous system to the muscles.

The somatic nervous system is essential for activities that require voluntary control, distinguishing it from the autonomic nervous system, which governs involuntary functions like digestion and heart rate. The central nervous system itself does not specifically control actions; instead, it processes information and integrates responses that the somatic system carries out. The sympathetic nervous system, a part of the autonomic nervous system, is specifically involved in the body's fight-or-flight response, managing involuntary processes rather than those requiring conscious control.