Corpus: Peripheral nervous system
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Synonyms: PNS, Systema nervosum periphericum
English:
Definition[Bearbeiten]
The peripheral nervous system, or PNS for short, is the part of the nervous system that is not part of the brain and spinal cord, the central nervous system (CNS). The PNS lies outside the skull and the spinal canal. It is largely formed by the cranial nerves and the spinal nerves and connects the CNS with the effector organs in the periphery.
Background[Bearbeiten]
The distinction between the PNS and CNS is purely topographical. Functionally, they are not independent systems. In motor nerves, for example, the nerve cells are located with their cell body in the CNS, while their nerve cell extension (axon) is located in the PNS. Conversely, in sensitive nerves, the nerve cell body is often located in the PNS, while the projection extends into the CNS.
Classification[Bearbeiten]
The peripheral nervous system can be further subdivided as follows:
- somatic nervous system (voluntary nervous system)
- autonomic nervous system (involuntary nervous system)
- sympathetic nervous system (sympathetic nervous system)
- parasympathetic nervous system (parasympathetic nervous system)
- enteric nervous system (ENS)