Which statement best describes the action of the parasympathetic division?

• A. It prepares the body for intense physical activity.
• B. It slows the heart rate and promotes digestion.
• C. It inhibits all glandular activity.
• D. It triggers rapid, widespread muscle contraction.

Answer: (B)

The parasympathetic division coordinates rest-and-digest responses, slowing the body's activities to conserve energy and support digestion. It lowers heart rate and promotes digestive processes, including increased gut motility and secretions, which helps break down and absorb nutrients after a meal. This is why the statement that it slows the heart rate and promotes digestion best captures its role. The other descriptions align with the sympathetic division, which prepares the body for action and stress—ramping up heart rate, dilating pupils, and accelerating muscle readiness—not with the calm, energy-conserving effects of the parasympathetic. Also, it doesn’t inhibit all glandular activity; it can stimulate certain secretions, such as saliva, under resting conditions.