Video Transcript
What are the components of the
peripheral nervous system? (A) The brain and spinal cord. (B) The brain and cranial
nerves. (C) The spine and the spinal
nerves. (D) The nerves outside of the brain
and spinal cord.
This question asks us to recall
what we know about the structure and function of the human nervous system. To efficiently collect, process,
and respond to information, the nervous system has a highly organized structure. It can be divided into
subdivisions, each with their own specific structural and functional
characteristics. The first division of the human
nervous system splits the network into two subdivisions: the central nervous system
and the peripheral nervous system.
The central nervous system consists
of two main components: the brain and the spinal cord. A major function of the brain is to
control complex functions like thinking, processing, and interpreting sensory
information, as well as coordinating a motor response. The spinal cord is the information
superhighway of the central nervous system. Its major function is to relay
messages between the brain and the body.
The peripheral nervous system
refers to all of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, which comprise the
central nervous system. The primary function of the
peripheral nervous system is to transmit information towards and away from the
central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system
carries sensory information from internal and external environments towards the
central nervous system for processing. After processing in the brain, the
peripheral nervous system carries the motor responses from the brain to the organs,
muscles, and glands.
Now, we know that the central
nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord, while the peripheral
nervous system is made up of all of the nerves outside of the central nervous
system. With this information, we are now
able to correctly answer our question. The main components of the
peripheral nervous system are the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.
