Talk:Somatic nervous system

60.241.35.56 (talk) 14:08, 21 April 2008 (UTC) whoever made this page is an idiot because somatic nervous system is part of the motor (efferent) division and cannot be part of the sensory (afferent) division 60.241.35.56 (talk) 14:08, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

The somatic nervous system is part of the central nervous system, not the peripheral because its cell body originates in the CNS and is a one neuron pathway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y7PryMgN0M — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.171.196.74 (talk) 20:56, 20 August 2011 (UTC)

Do sensory inputs belong?
I think there may be a problem with the distinction between somatic nervous system and somatic sensory system. There at least need to be sources cited supporting the idea that the somatic nervous system is involved in sensory signalling. Ngoshn (talk) 04:15, 28 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Not an expert on this, but I just googled around and every definition I would includes somatosensory inputs as well as motor outputs, so I think the article is correct, although of course I agree that it would be nice to have sources for it. Regards, Looie496 (talk) 16:45, 28 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Citation still needed for sensory/motor combo. Emble64 (talk) 14:21, 22 September 2010 (UTC)


 * I'd like to raise this issue again, i really do not think that sensory inputs are a part of the somatic nervous system. I am not an expert in this but im currently studying the subject at university, and that's not the impression i've got, the division of the nervous system we are given is in line with the schematic diagram which is on the "nervous system" wiki page. The PNS divides into motor and sensory functions, and motor functions divide into voluntary (somatic nervous system) and involuntary (autonmic nervous system). I mean it seems to be paradoxical to suggest that sensory information could be voluntary, as if you have any control over your senses. This confusion and contradiction is present in other defintions of the term i've found online, for instance from http://biology.about.com/od/organsystems/a/aa061804a.htm, "The motor nervous system is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system controls skeletal muscle as well as external sensory organs such as the skin. This system is said to be voluntary because the responses can be controlled consciously. Reflex reactions of skeletal muscle however are an exception. These are involuntary reactions to external stimuli."

Therefore seeing as there appears to be confusion, and i can offer a reliable source for saying that the somatic nervous system does not include sensory nerves, academics working in the field at the University of Edinburgh, i would suggest the definition be changed. I do not know the copyright status of lectures etc. to see if they could be referenced. Lewisly (talk) 13:00, 7 May 2011 (UTC)

Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology (Martini) defines somatic nervous system as "The efferent division of the nervous system that innervates skeletal muscles." Human Biology (Benjamin et al) defines the SoNS as "A division of the peripheral nervous system that is under voluntary control and stimulates skeletal muscle." The confusion lies in the term 'Somatosensory' which The Human Nervous System (Barr) defines as "Having to do with somatic sensation. Synonymous with Somesthetic." Basically there are nerves that sense somatic movement but are not part of the somatic nervous system. On an additional matter lecture notes are not a reliable source as they are simply not subject to scrutiny let alone peer reviewed by experts (the gold standard). —Preceding unsigned comment added by Shaedo (talk • contribs) 04:40, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

Second paragraph efferent/ afferent link seem inconsistent
The second paragraph's use of wording and links seems contradictory/inconsistent to me. "Afferent nerves" is equated with "sensory nerves", and "efferent nerves" are equated with "motor nerves". In the context of the PNS, I agree. However the wiki link used for motor nerves begins with the sentence, "A motor nerve is a nerve located in the CNS." Clearly, there is an issue with the nomenclature in the CNS vs the PNS...

I think the best action would be to point out the inconsistent nomenclature but keep the links. --FoamyM (talk) 18:32, 16 May 2019 (UTC)

Bad wording on the second parapgraph.
The second paragraph starts by saying "The somatic nervous system consists of sensory nerves carrying afferent nerve fibers that relay sensation from the body to the central nervous system (CNS)." This sentence, as is written, seems to say that the SNS consists only of the sensory nerves, so it is jarring that the next sentence says "The other nerves in the SNS are motor nerves carrying efferent nerve fibers that relay motor commands from the CNS to stimulate muscle contraction."

A better way to put it, imho, would be something like "The somatic nervous system consists of sensory nerves carrying afferent nerve fibers that relay sensation from the body to the central nervous system (CNS) and motor nerves carrying efferent nerve fibers that relay motor commands from the CNS to stimulate muscle contraction." Carllacan (talk) 12:33, 19 February 2022 (UTC)