The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the division of the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous system (CNS). The primary role of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the organs, limbs and skin. These nerves extend from the central nervous system to the outermost areas of the body.
The nerves that make up the peripheral nervous system are actually the axons or bundles of axons from neuron cells. In some cases, these nerves are very small but some nerve bundles are so large that they can be easily seen by the human eye.
The peripheral nervous system is divided into two parts:
- The somatic nervous system
- The autonomic nervous system
The Somatic Nervous System
The somatic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for carrying sensory and motor information to and from the central nervous system. The somatic nervous system derives its name from the Greek word soma, which means "body." The somatic system is responsible for transmitting sensory information as well as for voluntary movement. This system contains two major types of neurons: sensory neurons (or afferent neurons) that carry information from the nerves to the central nervous system, and motor neurons (or efferent neurons) that carry information from the brain and spinal cord to muscle fibers throughout the body.
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for regulating involuntary body functions, such as blood flow, heartbeat, digestion and breathing. This system is further divided into two branches: the sympathetic system regulates the flight-or-fight responses, while the parasympathetic system helps maintain normal body functions and conserves physical resources.
