Peripheral Nervous System

Introduction 

The peripheral nervous system is composed of the nerves and ganglia that are located outside of the central nervous system’s boundaries. The peripheral nervous system is divided into two divisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is responsible for the sensations and movements of the body. It is essential that each component of this system functions properly in order for information to be communicated throughout the body.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and it’s work

This system is divided into two parts: the central nervous system and its peripheral counterpart, which are both referred to as nervous systems. There are two parts to the nervous system. The central nervous system (CNS) contains the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) contains all of the nerves that branch out from the brain or spinal cord and extend to other parts of the body, such as muscles and organs.

The primary function of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is to connect the central nervous system to the organs, limbs, and skin. These nerves connect the central nervous system to the body’s extremities, and they are known as peripheral nerves. We are able to respond to stimuli in our environment because of the peripheral nervous system, which allows information from the brain and spinal cord to be received and transmitted to other parts of the body.

Rather than being actual nerves, the axons or bundles of axons from nerve cells or neurons that make up the peripheral nervous system are what makes up the peripheral nervous system. These nerves can be very small in some cases, but some nerve bundles can be so large that they can be seen clearly with the naked eye in others.

The Peripheral Nervous System is made up of various structures.

The peripheral nervous system is divided into two parts: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is responsible for the regulation of bodily functions, while the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the regulation of bodily functions.

Individually, each of these components contributes significantly to how the peripheral nervous system performs.

It is the Somatic Nervous System that is in charge of all bodily functions.

This part of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for transporting sensory and motor information to and from the central nervous system. It is also known as the somatic system. In Greek, the word soma means “body,” and thus the somatic nervous system gets its name from this word.

The somatic system is responsible for both the transmission of sensory information and the voluntary movement of the body. This system contains two major types of neurons: pyramidal and axonal.

Neurons that carry information from the brain and spinal cord to muscle fibres throughout the body are known as motor neurons, also known as efferent neurons. These motor neurons enable us to physically respond to stimuli in the environment by performing physical actions.

Neurons of the sensory system, also known as afferent neurons, are responsible for transmitting information from nerves to the central nervous system. These sensory neurons are responsible for allowing us to take in sensory information and transmit it to the brain and spinal cord, respectively.

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is a system in the body that regulates its own functions.

When it comes to involuntary body functions like blood flow, heartbeat, digestion, and breathing, the autonomic nervous system is the portion of the peripheral nervous system that is in charge of regulating them.

In other words, the autonomic nervous system is responsible for controlling aspects of the body that are not normally under voluntary control. This system enables these functions to take place without the need for the user to consciously consider that they are taking place. It is further subdivided into two branches of the autonomic system:

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for maintaining normal body functions while conserving physical resources. The body’s response to a perceived threat is to slow the heart rate and breathing, reduce blood flow to the muscles, and constrict the pupils. This allows us to return our bodies to a normal resting state as a result of our efforts.

It is the sympathetic nervous system that prepares the body to expend energy in response to environmental threats. The sympathetic nervous system regulates the flight-or-fight response1. When action is required, the sympathetic nervous system responds by increasing heart rate, decreasing breathing rate, increasing blood flow to muscles, activating sweat secretion, and dilation of the pupils to prepare the body for action.

Nerves of the spine

Nerves in the spine are responsible for transmitting information from muscles, organs, and glands to the central nervous system (CNS). In total, there are 31 spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and travel to various parts of the body. 2

Nerves of the skull

A group of nerves called cranial nerves is responsible for receptors located in the head and neck region. This group of nerves does not connect with the spinal cord; instead, they travel directly to the brain. It is believed that there are 12 pairs of cranial nerves that transmit motor and sensory information from various areas such as the face, mouth, eyes, nasal cavity, and ears. 3

Conclusion

The PNS comprises two divisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic system contains sensory and motor neurons. It sends and receives sensory information and motor signals. The autonomic system is responsible for regulating involuntary body functions.