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The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

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The Nervous System, also known as the Central Nervous System (CNS) is composed of two complex parts, the brain and the spinal cord. The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is the system especially designed from the branching off of the Central Nervous System. The PNS is also a complex and extensive nerve network comprised of spinal nerves, thirty one pairs to be exact, and twelve pairs of cranial nerves located outside the brain and the spinal cord.
The spinal nerves are conceived from the spinal cord whereas the cranial nerves stem from the base of the brain. Spinal nerves are known for their function of transporting information in from the peripheral vertebrate they are branched from on to the central nervous system. This information is then read and translated into instructions for any necessary changes to the system for that time. The cranial nerves of the PNS consists of the twelve pairs. The first set cranial nerves goes to the back of the nose for the ability of the smell sense, the olfactory nerve. The second pair of the cranial nerves is mapped to the eyes, this is …show more content…

The sensory branches are divided into two different portions, the Parasympathetic Division and the Sympathetic Division. The Parasympathetic Division or “Cranio/Sacral Division” handles the sensory impulses, such as the ones from neurons, and bringing that information into the CNS. In the “Thoraco/Lumbar Division”, another term for the Sympathetic Division, mostly deals with one’s motor abilities and functions going out toward the organs and such tissues causing changes in these particular organs. This division can also be referred to as the Automatic Peripheral Visceral Portion. The Parasympathetic and the Sympathetic Divisions are two separate yet cohesive part of the ANS that exemplifies afferent or sensory pathways to efferent or motor pathways. One division would cease to positively function without the

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