Question

What parts of the nervous system make up the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 1

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of all the nervous tissue outside the central nervous system, including nerves like the sciatic nerve; it has two main subdivisions: the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

Step-by-step explanation:

The parts of the nervous system that make up the peripheral nervous system (PNS) include all the nervous tissue outside the central nervous system (CNS). The PNS is composed of nerves, which are thick bundles of axons, that carry messages between the CNS and various parts of the body, such as muscles, organs, and sensory receptors. The peripheral nervous system has two major subdivisions: the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary movements, and the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions. Furthermore, the PNS is also divided into the sensory division, which transmits sensory information to the CNS, and the motor division, which sends commands from the CNS to the rest of the body.

The PNS includes nerves of the hands, arms, feet, legs, trunk, scalp, neck, face, as well as nerves that connect to the internal organs. Notable examples of nerves in the PNS include the sciatic nerve, which is the longest human nerve running from the lower back down to the toes.

Answer 2

The peripheral nervous system refers to parts of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. It includes the cranial nerves, spinal nerves and their roots and branches, peripheral nerves, and neuromuscular junctions.