Final answer:
The peripheral nervous system includes sensory neurons, motor neurons, spinal nerves, receptors, muscles and glands (as the targets of nervous signals), and cranial nerves. The brain, skull, stimulus, meninges, and specific nervous system classifications are not parts of the peripheral nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The parts of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) include structures and components that lie outside of the central nervous system (CNS), which is composed of the brain and spinal cord. From the options given, the parts of the peripheral nervous system are:
- Sensory neurons - These neurons carry sensory information from receptors to the CNS.
- Motor neurons - These neurons convey commands from the CNS to muscles and glands.
- Spinal nerves - These are the nerves that connect the spinal cord with various parts of the body.
- Muscles and glands - While they are not neurons, they are the effectors acted upon by motor neurons.
- Receptors - These detect various forms of stimuli and send the information to the CNS via sensory neurons.
- Cranial nerves - These nerves emerge directly from the brain and are part of the PNS, serving various functions including sensory and motor activities.
The brain, skull, stimulus, meninges, sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, somatic nervous system, and sensory-somatic nervous system are not parts of the peripheral nervous system but rather are associated with the central nervous system or the categorization of different nervous systems.