What are the two main components of the peripheral nervous system?

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is primarily composed of two main components: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary control of body movements through skeletal muscles and for processing sensory information from external stimuli, allowing conscious perception and reaction. Conversely, the autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary physiological processes, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, digestion, and sexual arousal. This system is further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which control the body's involuntary responses to stress and relaxation, respectively.

Understanding these two components is essential in studying how the nervous system functions as a whole, as they play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and enabling interaction with the environment.