Module 3: Peripheral Nervous System Flashcards
what is the PNS?
everything outside of the CNS (brain and spinal cord)
how many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31 pairs
how many cranial nerves are there?
12 pairs
what is the composition of the PNS?
- 31 pairs of spinal nerves
- ganglia
- enteric plexuses (GIT)
- other nerve plexuses
- sensory receptors
what do afferent nerves do?
carry information from sensory receptors to the CNS
what are afferent nerves?
somatic: skin, muscle, joint, reflexes and visceral organs (feeling full)
what do efferent nerves do?
carry information AWAY from CNS to effector organs
what are efferent nerves?
- somatic, innervate skeletal muscle
- autonomic, innervates smooth muscle, caridac muscle and glands (parasympathetic and sympathetic)
what is the sympathetic nervous system?
fight or flight - increases metabolic rate
what are the 5 features of the sympathetic nervous system?
- sight of origin: thoracolumnar (thoracic start, lumbar finish) shorter than parasympathetic
- preganglia shorter than parasympathetic
- have pre and post ganglions
- postganglia larger than parasympathetic
- ganglions are close to spinal cord
what is the parasympathetic nervous system?
rest and digest - decreases metabolic rate
what are the 4 features of the parasympathetic nervous system?
- sight of origin: cranialsacral (cranium start, sacral finish) - longer than sympathetic
- postganglia is shorter than sympathetic
- preganglia is longer then sympathetic
- ganglions are close to visceral organs
what are the 2 types of nerves in the PNS?
- spinal: arise from the spinal cord
- cranial: arise from the brain
how are the nerves of the PNS classified?
based on impulse direction
1. sensory (dorsal, towards CNS)
2. motor (ventral, away CNS)
3. mixed (both directions)
what are the 3 connective tissues protecting the nerves?
- epineurium
- perineurium
3.endoneurium