The sympathetic nervous system indeed activates the heart and influences skeletal muscle indirectly. It increases heart rate and action potential conductance, with the heart's base rate set by autorhythmic cells in the SA node, which is typically higher than the resting pulse due to stronger parasympathetic input at rest. While the sympathetic nervous system does not directly affect skeletal muscles, it plays a role in dilating blood vessels near these muscles, enhancing blood flow during activation.