Functionally, the nervous system is organized into a somatic nervous system and visceral nervous system. The somatic nervous system consists of nerves that carry conscious sensation from peripheral regions back to the CNS and nerves that exit the CNS to innervate voluntary (skeletal) muscles. In contrast, the visceral nervous system consists of nerves that carry sensory information into and motor (autonomic) innervation out of the CNS to regulate homeostatic functions. Further discussion of the somatic and visceral nervous systems will be presented within the context of the subsequent “Spinal Cord” section.