Home > Anatomy > Nervous System > Peripheral Nervous System Terms and Definitions
Peripheral Nervous System
| Definition: |
The nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system has autonomic and somatic divisions. The autonomic nervous system includes the enteric, parasympathetic, and sympathetic subdivisions. The somatic nervous system includes the cranial and spinal nerves and their ganglia and the peripheral sensory receptors. |
| Previously Indexed: |
Peripheral Nerves (1966-1993) |
Peripheral Nervous System Categories.
 |
Autonomic Nervous System - The enteric, parasympathetic, and sympathetic nervous systems taken together. Generally speaking, the autonomic nervous system regulates the internal environment during both peaceful activity and physical or emotional stress. Autonomic activity is controlled and integrated by the central nervous system, especially the hypothalamus and the solitary nucleus, which receive information relayed from VISCERAL AFFERENTS; these and related central and sensory structures are sometimes (but not here) considered to be part of the autonomic nervous system itself. |
|
Nerve Endings - Specialized terminations of peripheral neurons. Nerve endings include NEUROEFFECTOR JUNCTION(s) by which neurons activate target organs and sensory receptors (see RECEPTORS, SENSORY) which transduce information from the various sensory modalities and send it centrally in the nervous system. Presynaptic nerve endings are PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS. |
|
Peripheral Nerves - The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, including the autonomic, cranial, and spinal nerves. Peripheral nerves contain non-neuronal cells and connective tissue as well as axons. The connective tissue layers include, from the outside to the inside, the epineurium, the perineurium, and the endoneurium. |
Peripheral Nervous System Definitions and Terms
MedicalGlossary.org is designed as a free, browsable resource for all. The medical terms and definitions are not intended to replace medical informaion provided by licensed healthcare professionals. Please see a doctor if you need medical assistance. Don't see the medical term you were researching? Send us an e-mail from our "about us" page. We will do our best to research and classify new medical terms in a timely manner. Our current list of medical terms is over 26,000. Data sources include the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004 Medical Subject Headings.
|
