A&P 1 PNS AND CN (FINAL EXAM REVIEW) | PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS &
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
peripheral nervous system (PNS) - ANS ✔✔-all neural structures outside the brain and spinal
cord
-includes sensory receptors, peripheral nerves, associated ganglia, and motor endings
-provides links to and from the external environment
sensory receptors - ANS ✔✔-structures specialized to respond to stimuli
-activation of sensory receptors results in depolarizations that trigger impulses to the CNS
-the realization of these stimuli, sensation, and perception, occurs in the brain
mechanoreceptors - ANS ✔✔respond to touch, pressure, vibration, stretch, and itch
thermoreceptors - ANS ✔✔sensitive to changes in receptors
photoreceptors - ANS ✔✔respond to light energy (e.g., retina)
chemoreceptors - ANS ✔✔respond to chemicals (e.g., smell, taste, changes in blood chemistry)
nociceptors - ANS ✔✔sensitive to pain causing stimuli
, exteroceptors - ANS ✔✔-respond to stimuli arising outside the body
-found near the body surface
-sensitive to touch, pressure, pain, and temperature
-includes the special sense organs
interoceptors - ANS ✔✔-respond to stimuli arising inside the body
-found in internal viscera and blood vessels
-sensitive to chemical changes, stretch, and temperature changes
proprioceptors - ANS ✔✔-respond to degree of stretch of the organs they occupy
-found in skeletal muscle, tendons, joints, ligaments, and connective tissue coverings of bones
and muscles
-constantly "advise" the brain of one's movements
receptor classification by structural complexity - ANS ✔✔-receptors are structurally classified as
either simple or complex
-most receptors are simple and include encapsulated and unencapsulated varieties
-complex receptors are special sense organs
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
peripheral nervous system (PNS) - ANS ✔✔-all neural structures outside the brain and spinal
cord
-includes sensory receptors, peripheral nerves, associated ganglia, and motor endings
-provides links to and from the external environment
sensory receptors - ANS ✔✔-structures specialized to respond to stimuli
-activation of sensory receptors results in depolarizations that trigger impulses to the CNS
-the realization of these stimuli, sensation, and perception, occurs in the brain
mechanoreceptors - ANS ✔✔respond to touch, pressure, vibration, stretch, and itch
thermoreceptors - ANS ✔✔sensitive to changes in receptors
photoreceptors - ANS ✔✔respond to light energy (e.g., retina)
chemoreceptors - ANS ✔✔respond to chemicals (e.g., smell, taste, changes in blood chemistry)
nociceptors - ANS ✔✔sensitive to pain causing stimuli
, exteroceptors - ANS ✔✔-respond to stimuli arising outside the body
-found near the body surface
-sensitive to touch, pressure, pain, and temperature
-includes the special sense organs
interoceptors - ANS ✔✔-respond to stimuli arising inside the body
-found in internal viscera and blood vessels
-sensitive to chemical changes, stretch, and temperature changes
proprioceptors - ANS ✔✔-respond to degree of stretch of the organs they occupy
-found in skeletal muscle, tendons, joints, ligaments, and connective tissue coverings of bones
and muscles
-constantly "advise" the brain of one's movements
receptor classification by structural complexity - ANS ✔✔-receptors are structurally classified as
either simple or complex
-most receptors are simple and include encapsulated and unencapsulated varieties
-complex receptors are special sense organs
