Which division of the nervous system promotes rest and digestion?

• A. Sympathetic nervous system
• B. Central nervous system
• C. Peripheral nervous system
• D. Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer: (D)

The body uses a specific branch of the autonomic nervous system to handle restorative, energy-saving activities after meals and during calm states. This division promotes rest and digestion by slowing the heart rate, increasing digestive secretions, and boosting gut movement to process and absorb nutrients. It helps the body conserve energy and recover, which is why it’s often called the rest-and-digest system.

In contrast, the sympathetic division gears the body up for action—fitting for stress or exercise—by speeding the heart, diverting blood to muscles, and dialing up energy availability. While the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the CNS) describe broader parts of the nervous system, the specific branch that promotes rest and digestion is the parasympathetic division.