Which part of the nervous system includes cranial nerves like optic and olfactory?

The correct answer is that cranial nerves such as the optic and olfactory belong to the Peripheral Nervous System. This system is responsible for connecting the central nervous system to the limbs and organs. Cranial nerves emerge directly from the brain and primarily are involved in sensory and motor functions for the head and neck. The optic nerve carries visual information from the retina to the brain, while the olfactory nerve is responsible for the sense of smell.

The Central Nervous System, which includes the brain and spinal cord, processes information and coordinates responses but does not consist of the cranial nerves. The Autonomic Nervous System is a division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary body functions, such as heart rate and digestion, while the Somatic Nervous System is responsible for voluntary muscle movements and relaying sensory information to the central nervous system. These distinctions help clarify the functional roles of each nervous system component.