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When people call an issue in a discussion peripheral, they mean that it's not of primary importance, and they're probably suggesting that everyone get back to the main topic.
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used to describe something that is not as important as the main thing to which it is related, for example a company's less successful activities in relation to its most successful ones: Some of the more peripheral interests have been sold and the company now has a clearer focus on certain markets. IT.
- Overview
- What Is the Peripheral Nervous System?
- Structures of the Peripheral Nervous System
- Nerves in the Peripheral Nervous System
- Diseases of the Peripheral Nervous System
- Treatment for PNS Conditions
- A Word From Verywell
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The peripheral nervous system includes the nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord. The PNS includes the peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junctions, cranial nerves, and spinal nerves. This system also carries information to and from the central nervous system.
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is made up of two divisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic system. Each part of this system plays a vital role in how information is communicated throughout the body.
This article discusses what the peripheral nervous system is, how it works, and the influence that it has on how the body functions, including what happens when there is a problem affecting the PNS.
The nervous system is divided into two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system includes all of the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord and extend to other parts of the body, including muscles and organs.
The primary role of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the organs, limbs, and skin. The nerves of the PNS extend from the central nervous system to the outermost areas of the body. The peripheral system allows the brain and spinal cord to receive and send information to other areas of the body, which allows us to react to stimuli in our environment.
The four primary functions of the PNS are to:
•Control autonomic body functions
•Control motor movements
•Digestion
The Somatic Nervous System
The somatic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for carrying sensory and motor information to and from the central nervous system. The somatic nervous system derives its name from the Greek word soma, which means "body." The somatic system is responsible for transmitting sensory information as well as for controlling voluntary movement. This system contains two major types of neurons: Motor neurons: Also called efferent neurons, motor neurons carry information from the brain and spinal cord to muscle fibers throughout the body. These motor neurons allow us to take physical action in response to stimuli in the environment. Sensory neurons: Also called afferent neurons, sensory neurons carry information from the nerves to the central nervous system. The sensory neurons allow us to take in sensory information and send it to the brain and spinal cord.
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that's responsible for regulating involuntary body functions, such as blood flow, heartbeat, digestion, and breathing. In other words, it is the autonomic system that controls aspects of the body that are usually not under voluntary control. This system allows these functions to take place without needing to consciously think about them happening. The autonomic system is further divided into two branches: Sympathetic system: By regulating the flight-or-fight response, the sympathetic system prepares the body to expend energy to respond to environmental threats. When action is needed, the sympathetic system triggers a response by accelerating heart rate, increasing breathing rate, boosting blood flow to muscles, activating sweat secretion, and dilating the pupils. Parasympathetic system: This helps maintain normal body functions and conserve physical resources. Once a threat has passed, this system will slow the heart rate, slow breathing, reduce blood flow to muscles, and constrict the pupils. This allows the body to return to a normal resting state.
Recap
The PNS is made up of two divisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic system contains sensory and motor neurons. It sends and receives sensory information and motor signals. The autonomic system is responsible for regulating involuntary body functions.
The PNS is composed of nerves that are responsible for carrying signals between the central nervous system and the parts of the body that lie outside the CNS. This includes information from the senses, organs, and muscles.
The axons of these nerve cells are bundled together and can be found throughout the body. Information is received by the dendrites of these cells, the information travels down the axon to the cell body. The message can then be communicated to other cells.
There are a number of diseases and disorders that can affect the peripheral nervous system. Problems with the sensory and motor neurons in the PNS can result in changes in sensation, muscle weakness, or muscle paralysis.
Some of the conditions that can affect the PNS include:
•Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
•Carpal tunnel syndrome
•Diabetes
•Epstein-Barr virus
Treatment for peripheral nerve problems depends on the cause and focuses on treating the underlying disorder and offering supportive care. For example, some PNS conditions may be caused by injury while others may be related to underlying health conditions, viruses, toxins, or genetic disorders.
In addition to treating conditions that may be causing dysfunction or damage to PNS nerves, treatment may also involve surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, and respiratory support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the peripheral nervous system do? The nerves of the peripheral nervous system are responsible for relaying information between the body and the brain. This includes involuntary body functions such as breathing, blood flow, and heartbeat as well as sensory information and control of voluntary movement. What is the peripheral nervous system made up of? The peripheral nervous system is made up of the nerves and ganglia that lie outside of the brain and spinal cord. It begins with the spinal nerves that branch off from the spinal cord and the cranial nerves that connect directly to the brain. What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system? The two divisions of the PNS are the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic system includes the nerves that transmit motor and sensory information to and from the CNS. The autonomic system regulates automatic body functions including digestion and blood pressure. How would an injury to the central nervous system affect the peripheral nervous system? Injuries to the CNS may affect the ability of the brain and spinal cord to send signals to the peripheral nervous system. For example, damage to the spinal cord may affect the ability to transmit motor and sensory information to the rest of the body. Some research suggests that traumatic brain injury may be associated with an increased risk for disorders that can affect the peripheral nervous system, such as ALS. Additional Reading By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."
Scanners, printers, and speakers are peripheral devices for a computer because they aren't central to the working of the computer itself. Anything peripheral is on the margin, or outside, while main things, like a computer's processor, are not peripheral.
not relating to the most important part of something; incidental, minor, or superficial. 2. of, relating to, or of the nature of a periphery. 3. anatomy.
Definition of peripheral adjective in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Peripheral definition: relating to, situated in, or constituting the periphery. See examples of PERIPHERAL used in a sentence.
