Understanding the Nervous System's Response to Pain - Somatic Nervous System

Somatic nervous system

When you are pricked by a needle, the somatic nervous system is responsible for the immediate response of your body. The somatic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary movements and sensations. It consists of the sensory neurons that transmit information from the skin to the spinal cord and brain, and the motor neurons that transmit signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles. When the needle pricks your skin, the sensory neurons send a signal to the spinal cord and brain, which then sends a signal to the motor neurons to contract the muscles around the prick, causing you to pull your hand away.