with Verified Answers
Peripheral Nervous System - Ans -• The peripheral nervous system is the entire
network of nerves located outside the CNS. It extends to the top of the head, throughout
the body to the tips of the fingers and toes and to all parts of the skin.
• The PNS enables communication between the CNS and all other parts of the body
outside the brain and spinal cord
Functions of the Peripheral Nervous System - Ans -• Its two functions are:
o To carry information to the CNS from the body's muscles, organs and glands (about the
internal environment) and from the sensory organs (about the external environment).
o To carry information from the CNS to the body's muscles, organs and glands.
Somatic nervous system - Ans -• The somatic nervous system is a subdivision of the
PNS. It carries sensory information to the CNS and motor information from the CNS.
Sensory information is communicated along sensory neural pathways and motor
information along motor neural pathways
Sensory neurons and neural pathways - Ans -• The sensory neural pathways (also
called afferent pathways) contain sensory neurons that receive signals from the eyes, ears,
nose, skin, tendons, joints, skeletal muscles, tongue and many other tissues and organs.
• Sensory neurons (also called afferent neurons) are specialised nerve cells that receive
and carry sensory messages. These neurons generally respond to a particular type of
stimulation.
o For example, some neurons generally respond only to light, but not other types of
stimulation such as mechanical energy (sound), odours (smell) and pressure (touch).
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