Your nervous system is divided into the central and peripheral nervous systems. The peripheral system encompasses all nerve cells outside your brain and spinal cord. And it’s divided into the sensory somatic and autonomic nervous system.
The sensory somatic portion of your peripheral nervous system consists of sensory and motor nerves. Sensory neurons send information to your central nervous system in regards to external stimuli received by your senses. The motor division transports information from your central nervous system that controls voluntary activities. This part of your peripheral nervous system is what’s often classified as voluntary.
Your autonomic nervous system is considered to work involuntarily, causing flight or fight response changes and returning them to normal afterwards. It’s this part of your peripheral nervous system that controls smooth and cardiac muscles.