Central & Peripheral Nervous System

Central Nervous System (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

all aspects not enclosed in the vertebral column or skull. (everything but the brain and spinal cord)

Afferent

carries info from peripheral receptors towards the CNS

Efferent

carries information away from the CNS (to muscle, organs, etc.)

Somatic nervous system

controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

Somatic Motor System

transmits information from the brain to skeletal muscle (parts from out brain we tell to do/move). (the movements)

Somatosensory System

conveys info from skin, senses

Autonomic nervous system

controls the self-regulated action of internal organs and glands.(from our brain and all the things our body does without realizing)

Bi-directional

communication between brain and smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and gland cells. 

Dorsal root

Root that enlarges to a dorsal root ganglion at the end, containing cell bodies

Ventral root

has its cell bodies in the spinal cord

Spinal nerve

the union of the dorsal root and the ventral root