PERIPHERAL

NERVOUS SYSTEM
nerves on the edge
PERIPHERAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• On the edges of the center.
• Branches out from the spinal cord & brain to the extremities of the body.
• Consists primarily of long axons and dendrites from many neurons; it contains all parts of
the nervous system other than brain and spinal cord (CNS).
• Most of these nerves are attached to the spinal cord; these spinal nerves serve all of the
body below neck. Other nerves, known as cranial nerves, extend from the brain.
• Allows the brain and spinal cord to communicate with the sensory systems of the eyes,
ears, skin, and mouth and allows the brain and spinal cord to control the muscles and
glands of the body.
 PNS

Somatic Autonomic
NS NS

Sensory Motor
Pathway Pathway
SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Division of the PNS consisting of nerves that carry information from the senses to the CNS
and from the CNS to the voluntary muscles of the body.
• Hence connects the central nervous system to voluntary muscles throughout the body.
• Although these muscles are called the “voluntary muscles,” they can move involuntarily
when a reflex response occurs. They are called “voluntary” because they can be moved at
will but are not limited to only that kind of movement.
• Eg. Walking, ordering a pizza, motion of eyes while reading, motion of fingers
while scrolling, etc.
• Made up of SENSORY PATHWAY & MOTOR PATHWAY
SENSORY PATHWAY
-Nerves coming from the sensory organs to the CNS consisting of afferent neurons.
-Carries messages from the senses to the CNS (through Afferent Neurons).

MOTOR PATHWAY
- Nerves coming from the CNS to the voluntary muscles, consisting of efferent neurons.
-Carries messages from the CNS to the voluntary muscles (through Efferent Neurons).

*
INTERNEURON
• – the central nodes of neural circuits, enabling communication between sensory
& motor neurons and the CNS.
• - play vital roles in reflexes, neuronal oscillations, and neurogenesis in the adult
mammalian brain.
REFLEX ACTION:
an unconscious and involuntary response to a stimulus.
Eg. Salivation to the sight or smell of food; withdrawal of
hand from a hot surface; etc.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Derives its name from the fact that many of the activities it controls, such as digestion and circulation, are
autonomous, or self-regulating, and continue even when a person is asleep or unconscious.
• Division of the PNS that controls the parts of the body that keep us alive —heart, lungs, lining of stomach &
intestine, organs, blood vessels, glands, and involuntary muscles.
• Connects CNS to internal glands, organs and involuntary muscles.
• ANS activity is controlled by the nervous system, in particular by the hypothalamus.
• It consists of clumps of neurons located on or near the spinal column.
• Eg. Pumping of blood through the body, breathing (pushing of lungs in and out), digestion (movement of
muscles of the digestive system), respiration.
• Both parasympathetic and sympathetic division functions in a coordinated manner.
 CNS

Autonomic NS Somatic NS

Sympathetic Parasympathetic
System System
SYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Fight-or-flight system.
• Primarily located on the middle of the spinal column—running from near the top of the
ribcage to the waist area.
• Readies the body for expenditure of energy.
• Responsible for reacting to stressful events and intense bodily arousal.
• Acts to prepare the body for actions in stressful situations by engaging all of the
organism's resources to run away or to confront the threat (fight-or-flight reponse).
• Stimulation of this division increases heartbeat&bp, releases sugar into blood for energy,
dialates pupil, increases blood to muscles used in physical activities, functions such as
digestion which are not necessary while dealing with stress is inhibited.
PARASYMPATHETIC
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Eat-drink-and-rest system.
• Neurons are located at the top &bottm of the spinal column, on either side of
the sympathetic division neurons.
• Part of the ANS that restores the body to normal functioning after arousal and
is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the organs and glands.
• Readies the body for restoration of energy.
• Stimulates processes that conserve the blood's energy.
• Activation of this system slows down heartbeat&bp, constricts the pupils, reactivates
digestion, signals to the adrenal gland stops because the parasympathetic division is not
connected to the adrenal gland, normal breathing & respiration.
THANK YOU