Which nervous system component carries messages to and from the CNS?

The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is vital for communication between the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the rest of the body. It encompasses all the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord, functioning as a relay system. The PNS carries sensory information from the body to the CNS, allowing the brain to process external stimuli, and it transmits motor commands from the CNS back to the muscles and glands, facilitating movement and response to the environment.

In contrast, the Central Nervous System consists solely of the brain and spinal cord, serving as the control center for processing and interpreting information rather than transmitting messages. The Sympathetic Nervous System is part of the autonomic division of the PNS that specifically prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses, whereas the Autonomic Nervous System controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate and digestion, but it does not encompass all the transmission of messages in the way the PNS does. Therefore, the Peripheral Nervous System is accurately recognized as the component responsible for carrying messages to and from the CNS.