The Peripheral Nervous System

Flashcards covering the key vocabulary and concepts of the peripheral nervous system.

Peripheral Nervous System

Comprised of all parts of the nervous system except for the brain and the spinal cord; communication between the central nervous system and the rest of the body

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord; integrative and control centers

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Cranial nerves and spinal nerves; communication lines between the CNS and the rest of the body

Sensory (afferent) division

Somatic and visceral sensory nerve fibers; conducts impulses from receptors to the CNS

Motor (efferent) division

Motor nerve fibers; conducts impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles and glands)

Sympathetic division

Mobilizes body systems during activity ("fight or flight")

Parasympathetic division

Conserves energy; promotes "housekeeping" functions during rest

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Visceral motor (involuntary); conducts impulses from the CNS to cardiac muscles, smooth muscles, and glands

Somatic nervous system

Somatic motor (voluntary); conducts impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles

Epineurium, Perineurium, Endoneurium

Protective wrappings around neuron axons, with blood supplies

Spinal Nerves

31 pairs that exit the central nervous system via nerve roots between vertebrae

Nerve Roots

Transition from the spinal cord (central nervous system) to the peripheral nervous systems' spinal nerves

31 pairs of peripheral spinal nerves

Organized into neural plexuses in the cervical, brachial, and lumbosacral regions

Cervical Plexus

Cervical spinal nerves 1-4

Brachial Plexus

Cervical spinal nerves 5-8 and the 1st thoracic nerve, to the arm

Lumbar Plexus

The 12th thoracic nerve, and lumbar nerves 1-4

Sacral Plexus

Lumbar nerves 4 and 5, as well as all of the sacral nerves

Nerves of the Cervical and Brachial Plexuses

Phrenic, Axillary, Median, Radial, and Ulnar Nerves

Nerves of the Lumbar and Sacral Plexuses

Femoral, Obturator, Common Fibular, Sciatic, and Tibial Nerves