National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

Which part of the human central nervous system controls voluntary movements?

1. Spinal Cord

2. Cerebellum

3. Cerebrum

4. Medulla

The correct answer is: Cerebrum

The cerebrum is the main part of the brain responsible for controlling voluntary movements. It is the largest part of the human brain and is divided into two hemispheres, each containing four lobes that process different types of information. The primary motor cortex, located in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum, specifically directs voluntary muscle movements by sending signals to the muscles to contract. In addition to coordinating movements, the cerebrum also plays a critical role in other higher brain functions such as thinking, memory, and emotions, which are essential for planning and executing complex actions. This makes it the central hub for integrating sensory information and responding to it with voluntary motor functions. While the spinal cord also plays a role in movement by transmitting signals from the brain to the body and vice versa, it does not constitute the part of the brain that initiates and coordinates voluntary movements. The cerebellum helps regulate coordination and balance in movements but is more involved in fine-tuning and optimizing the skills rather than initiating them. The medulla is responsible for autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate and does not control voluntary movement. Therefore, the cerebrum is the part of the central nervous system that directly controls voluntary movements.