Final answer:
Interneurons are located within the Central Nervous System (CNS), where they facilitate communication between sensory and motor neurons. The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), in contrast, includes nerves and ganglia that connect the CNS to the rest of the body but does not contain interneurons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Interneurons are found within the Central Nervous System (CNS). These neurons carry nerve impulses back and forth often between sensory and motor neurons within the spinal cord or brain. As part of the CNS, interneurons are associated with processes such as reflexes, central integration, and complex signal processing. On the other hand, the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) includes nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord, which connect the CNS to the rest of the body.
While the CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord, the PNS is divided into the autonomic nervous system, which controls bodily functions without conscious control, and the sensory-somatic nervous system, which transmits sensory information to the CNS and sends motor commands to muscles. The PNS is characterized by the presence of different types of ganglia, such as sensory ganglia and autonomic ganglia, which contain neuron cell bodies in the periphery. It is important to note that interneurons are distinct from the neurons forming these ganglia in the PNS.
There are different neuron types in the human body, each specialized for specific functions. Interneurons play a crucial role in the CNS, acting as a link between different neuron types, contributing to the vast network of the central nervous system.