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Peripheral Nervous System

The peripheral nervous system consists of neurons and glial cells outside of the central nervous system. It contains sensory neurons that bring information to the CNS from afferent fibers located in dorsal roots. Motor neurons carry signals from the CNS to effector organs through efferent fibers in ventral roots. The peripheral nervous system is divided into the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary muscles, and the autonomic nervous system, consisting of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions that regulate involuntary functions.

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Peripheral Nervous System

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Essential Anatomy and Physiology - Core Concept Cheat Sheet

13: The Peripheral Nervous System

Key Terms

Cell Types

Nervous System: The system of cells, tissues, and organs

that regulates the body's responses to internal and external
stimuli.
Impulse: The electrochemical signal transmitted down a
neuron.
Neuron: The basic functional unit of the nervous system,
consisting of a cell body, and its processes: the dendrites,
axon, and terminal branches.
Neurotransmitter: Biological molecules released from the
terminal branches in response to a propagating action
potential.
Axon: The major process that conducts impulses from the
dendrites to the terminal branches.
Myelin Sheath: The fatty membranes that cover the axon,
allowing for faster electrical conduction.
Nodes of Ranvier: Gaps in the myelin sheath. The electrical
impulses jump from one node to the next on an axon.
Electrical Potential: A separation of charge, which gives
the ability to send electricity.
Ions: Charged atoms, which give the neuron its potential.
Resting Potential: The potential of an inactive neuron.
Action Potential: The propagated impulse of an excited
neuron.
Threshold Potential: The potential at which an action
potential can be initiated.
Afferent Neuron: Brings sensory information to the CNS.
Efferent Neuron: Brings motor information from the CNS.
Dorsal Root: contains sensory neurons.
Dorsal Root Ganglia: Bundle of sensory neuron cell bodies
outside the spinal cord.
Ventral Root: contains motor neurons.
Mixed Nerves: Nerves that contain both sensory and motor
neurons.
Reflex Arc: A simple neural circuit that includes an afferent
sensory neuron, an interneuron, and an efferent motor
neuron that does not rely on any input from the brain.
Somatic Nervous System: Voluntary motor system
Autonomic System: Involuntary nervous system
Parasympathetic Nervous System: The part of the
Autonomic system that inhibits function
Sympathetic Nervous System: The part of the Autonomic
system that inhibits function
Sympathetic Ganglion: sympathetic synapses between
spinal neurons and efferent neurons

Neurons:
Anaxonic small neurons with no identifiable axon
(interneurons)
Bipolar small neurons with two processes, one axon and
one dendritic (specialized sensory neurons)
Unipolar large myelinated neurons with a single dendroaxonic process with the cell body off to the side (afferent
sensory)
Multipolar large myelinated neurons with many dentritic
processes and an axonal process that can branch (efferent
motor neuron)
Glial Cells:
Schwann Cells: scavenging, structural support and source of
PNS myelination
Satellite Cells: cells that surround the cell bodies in the
dorsal root ganglia

Neurons and Glial Cells

Terminals

Dendrites
Axon
Cell Body

Schwann Cells

Spinal Nerve Anatomy

Dorsal root ganglion
(afferent sensory)
Dorsal root of spine