peripheral nervous system Flashcards
what is the PNS
peripheral nervous system
nerves (cranial and spinal) and ganglia (collection of cell bodies) outside the brain and spinal cord
what 2 nerves are not known as peripheral nerves
cranial nerves 1 and 2
what can the PNS be divided into
the somatic and autonomic nervous system
what does the sensory division do
composed of sensory neurons
conducts signals from receptors to CNS
afferent nerves - info to CNS
what does the motor division do
composed of motor neurones
conducts signals from CNS to effectors
efferent nerves away from CNS
how many pairs of cranial nerves are there
12 pairs
how many pairs of spinal nerves are there
31 pairs (emerge from spinal cord through intervertebral foramina)
what do somatic afferent nerves do
convey info from skin, skeletal muscles and joints
what do somatic efferent nerves do
convey info to skeletal muscles
what does somatic mean
under voluntary control
what is dermatome
an area of skin that is supplied by a single spinal nerve
what is myotome
a group of muscles innervated by a single spinal nerve
what do visceral afferent nerves do
carry info from viscera (thoracic, abdominal and pelvic organs)
what can visceral efferent nerves be divided into
sympathetic and parasympathetic
what do visceral sympathetic efferent nerves innervate
the viscera (organs) and periphery (sweat glands and vasculature)
what do visceral parasympathetic efferent nerves innervate
viscera only
what does autonomic mean
involuntary responses
what is a ganglion
a collection of cell bodies outside the CNS
what is a nucleus
a collection of cell bodies inside the CNS