THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

(Peripheral Nervous System Anatomy)

Overview

The peripheral nervous system refers to parts of the nervous system outside
the brain and spinal cord. It includes the cranial nerves, spinal nerves and their roots
and branches, peripheral nerves, and neuromuscular junctions. The anterior horn cells,
although technically part of the central nervous system (CNS), are sometimes
discussed with the peripheral nervous system because they are part of the motor unit.
In the peripheral nervous system, bundles of nerve fibers or axons conduct information
to and from the central nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the part of
the nervous system concerned with the innervation of involuntary structures, such as
the heart, smooth muscle, and glands within the body. It is distributed throughout the
central and peripheral nervous systems.

Lesson Outcomes:
By the end of this section, you will have completed the following objectives:
Define Peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Distinguish between somatic and autonomic structures, including the
special peripheral structures of the enteric nervous system
Name the twelve cranial nerves and explain the functions associated with
each.
Describe the sensory and motor components of spinal nerves and the
plexuses that they pass through.
Instructional Materials: Laptop, Google, Zoom App & PowerPoint Presentation
Reference:
https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/the-peripheral-nervous-system
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-peripheral-nervous-system-2795465
Seeley S.T. (2013). Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology 6th Edition.
Online Learning Center (www.mhhe.com/seeley6)

Lesson Proper:
What is the Peripheral Nervous System?
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is the division of the nervous
system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous system (CNS).
The primary role of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the organs, limbs, and skin. These
nerves extend from the central nervous system to the outermost areas of the body.
Ang pangunahing papel ng PNS ay upang ikonekta ang CNS sa mga
organs, limbs, at skin. Ang mga ugat na ito ay umaabot mula sa CNS
hanggang sa pinakamalayo na mga lugar ng katawan.

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the connection between the central nervous
system and the rest of the body. The CNS is like the power plant of the nervous system.
It creates the signals that control the functions of the body. The PNS is like the wires
that go to individual houses. Without those “wires,” the signals produced by the CNS
could not control the body (and the CNS would not be able to receive sensory
information from the body either).

Example. Ang CNS ay tulad ng power ng kuryente. Lumilikha ito ng

mga signal na kumokontrol sa mga pagpapaandar ng katawan. Ang
PNS ay tulad ng mga wire na pupunta sa mga indibidwal na bahay.
Kung wala ang mga "wires," ang mga signal na ginawa ng CNS ay
hindi makontrol ang katawan (at ang CNS ay hindi makakatanggap ng
mabilisang karamdamam ng impormasyon mula sa katawan).
I. Peripheral sensory receptors
Receptors are either dendritic ends of sensory neurons that monitor general
sensory information over wide areas, Receptors may also associate with cells that
transfer the signal to a sensory neuron (ex. merkel cells) and monitor specialized
senses by existing in localized regions.

Ang mga receptor ay alinman sa mga dendritic na dulo ng mga

sensory neuron na sumusubaybay sa pangkalahatang impormasyong
pandama sa malalawak na lugar, ang mga Receptors ay maaari ring
maiugnay sa mga cell na naglilipat ng signal sa isang sensory neuron
(hal. Mga cell ng merkel) at sinusubaybayan ang mga dalubhasang
pandama ng mayroon sa mga naisalokal na rehiyon.
A. Classification by location of sensory receptors
 Receptors that receive stimulus from the environment are sensitive to pressure,
pain, smell, sight, and hearing are called exteroceptors.

 Receptors that are sensitive to the body's internal changes, either visceral or
chemical changes, taste, and temperature are called interoceptors

 Receptors found within skeletal muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments monitor
the amount of stretching and send input on movement. They are called
prorioceptors.
B. Classification by stimulus detected
 Mechanoreceptors are stimulated by mechanical forces such as touch, pressure,
etc.

 Thermoreceptors are stimulated by temperature changes

 Chemoreceptors respond to chemicals changes in blood, taste, or smell

 Photoreceptors respond to light such as those found in the eye

C. Classification by structure
The specialized sense organs have receptors with special structures for
detecting certain stimuli, the ones listed below are general sensory receptors found
throughout the body that detect mechanical forces.
 Free dendritic.endings - naked dendritic endings are in every tissue and most
often in the integument. They sense pain and temperature changes and some
 sense light touch. Itch receptors (newly discovered) are also free dendritic ends
but are very thin in diameter

 Encapsulated dendritic endings - these are nerve endings wrapped in connective

tissue and serve as mechanoreceptors

 Meissners.corpuscles - detect light touch in the skin

 Krause's End.bulbs - detect fine touch in mucus membranes

 Pacinian Corpuscles - found in deep connective tissue (hypodermis) respond to

vibration and briefly respond to deep pressure.

 Ruffini's Corpuscles - found in dermis respond to continuous pressure

 Proprioceptors- found in muscle tissue, tendons, and ligaments, they monitor

stretch in locomotory organs.

II. Peripheral motor endings

Axons that synapse with either muscle or glands to activate them.
 A. Innervation of skeletal muscle - each muscle fiber is associated with a
neuromuscular junction (synapse between motor axon and muscular tissue). A motor
neuron branches in order to innervate individual skeletal muscle fibers and is called a
motor unit. At the synapse the axon releases synaptic vesicles filled with a
neurotransmitter called acetylcholine which depolarizes the sarcolemma. The basal
lamina of the sarcolemma grooves releases acetyicholinesterase, an enzyme that
immediately breaks down acetylcholine to prevent further stimulation of muscle twitch.
The motor unit signal causes an overall contraction of the muscle. The finer the motor
movement the more motor neurons and each innervates less muscular fibers.
B. Innervation of visceral muscle and glands - the visceral motor axon forms
a row of axon knobs (varicosities) and have a larger distance in the synaptic cleft. The
response is slower because of the time it takes for the neurotransmitter to diffuse. The
heart is also innervated by these motor neurons, but there are no varicosities.

IlI. Cranial Nerves

These nerves serve the head and neck, they originate in the brain and most of
them exit the skull through cranial foramina not vertebral foramina. They are numbered
I-XII rostrally to caudally.
The human brain contains 12 cranial nerves that receive sensory input and control
motor output for the head and neck.
The first set of peripheral nerves are the twelve cranial nerves: olfactory (CN I), optic
(CN II), oculomotor (CN III), trochlear (CN IV), trigeminal (CN V1, CN V2, CN V3),
abducens (CN VI), facial (CN VII), vestibulocochlear (CN VIII), glossopharyngeal (CN
IX), vagus (CN X), spinal accessory (CN XI), and hypoglossal (CN XII) nerves.
A. Olfactory nerve l - sensory nerve to smell, it runs below the frontal lobe,
purely sensory, cerebrum.
B. Optic nerve II - a brain track exiting through the optic chiasma, it sends
signals of image to the brain, purely sensory, cerebrum.
C. Oculomotor nerve III - caudal to optic chiasma it innervates internal eye
muscles to move the eye (superior, inferior, lateral, medial rectus) and eyelids. It
adjust the pupil and lens. Motor nerve, visceral motor, and proprioceptive,
midbrain.
D. Trochlear nerves IV - (pulley) it innervates the superior oblique muscles of
the eye, motor nerve, midbrain.
E. Trigeminal nerves V - (three fold) it has three branches that carry sensory
information from the face (superficial and internal) and motor information for
chewing muscles, mixed, pons.
F. Abducens nerves VI - sensory nerve to smell, it runs below the frontal lobe,
purely sensory, cerebrum.
G. Facial nerves VII - innervates muscles of facial expression, activates facial
glands, conveys sensory from taste buds. Mixed and visceral motor, pons.
H. Vestibulocochlear nerves VIll - sensory nerve for hearing and equilibrium,
purely sensor, medulla oblongata.
I. Glossopharyngeal nerves IX - Innervates the tongue and pharynx, controls a
muscle used for swallowing, activates salivary gland, conducts taste, and other
facial sensory. Mixed and visceral motor, medulla oblongata.
J. Vagus Nerves X - (wanders) controls muscles of swallowing extends beyond
the face and neck into the thorax and abdomen to innervate internal organs for
 motor and sensory impulses, some sensory near ear area. Mixed and visceral
motor, medulla oblongata.
K. Accessory nerves Xl - accessory for the vagus nerve- it joins it, and controls
muscles that moves the head and some of the same as the vagus. Motor and
visceral motor, medulla oblongata.
L. Hypoglossal nerves XIl - (below the tongue) runs below the tongue and
innervates the tongue muscles, motor nerves, medulla oblongata.
IV. Spinal Nerves
There are 31 pairs of nerves exiting the spinal column: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5
lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal. They innervate the body in sections as seen on page
426. Each nerve has a dorsal (sensory) and ventral root (motor) that attach to the spinal
cord at the rootlets. Each spinal nerve also has dorsal and ventral ramus that carries
motor and sensory nerves. The ventral ramus connects to rami commicantes that
connect to sympathetic chain ganglia. The dorsal rami supplies the posterior parts of the
body and ventral rami supplies the lateral and anterior sides of the body.
  Innervation of the back - the nerves follow a neat and simple pattern.

 Innervation of the anterior thoracic an abdominal wall - supply intercostals

muscles, skin or anterior and lateral thorax and abdomen

 Introduction to nerve plexuses- these are networks of nerve clusters formed by

ventral rami from different spinal nerves. Plexuses serve the limbs and are
designed to prevent paralysis of a limb muscle by the distraction of just one
spinal nerve.

1. The cervical plexus and innervation of the neck - formed by C1-C4 nerves, most
branches are cutaneous nerves and anterior neck muscles and diaphragm.
2. The brachial plexus and innervation of the upper limb - formed by C5-C8 nerves,
it supplies the upper limbs. The plexus' extremely complex lies between the cervical and
axillary regions. Roots run deep of the sternocieidomastoid, they unite to form trunks
which divide into anterior and posterior divisions that break into lateral, medial and
posterior cords that divide into the terminal branches (around axilla) that innervate the
arm. The nerves of the arms are: axillary nerve musculocutaneous nerve, median
nerve, ulnar nerve, and radial nerves.
3. The lumbar plexus and innervation of the lower limb - formed by L1-L4 nerves
the main branches innervate the anterior thigh via the femoral nerve. Medial thigh and
adductor muscles are innervated by the obturator nerve.
4. The sacral plexus and innervation on the lower limb - formed by L4-S4 nerves, its
many branches innervate the buttock, lower limb, pelvis, and perineum. The largest
branch is the sciatic nerve that supplies lateral and posterior limb regions. It branches
into the tibial and fibial nerve.
5. Innervation of joints of the body - As a health professional you need to know the
nerves that innervate the joints. Use Hilton's Law any nerve that innervates a muscle
producing movement at a joint also innervates the joint itself and the skin over it.
Example: Knee joint is surrounded by anterior and posterior thigh muscles that are
innervated by femoral, obturator, and branches of the sciatic nerves.
6. Innervation of the skin: dermatomes - each spinal nerves innervates a skin.
V. The autonomic nervous system
Nerves that innervate smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands. The stimulus
they send is not voluntarily controlled. It is the visceral motor division.
A. Comparison of autonomic and somatic motor systems
The motor unit or autonomic system includes two motor neurons: preganglionic
neuron myeinated) has an axon that synapses it the postganglionic neuron
(unmyelinated) in autonomic ganglion, then the axon of the postganglionic neuron
synapses with the viscera. A somatic motor unit contains one myelinated axon per
innervate muscle cell. *NOTE: the Automatic ganglia is motor NOT sensory.
B. Division of the Autonomic nervous system
Both divisions have motor units that cause opposite effects of the visceral organs
they innervate. The autonomic nervous system is divided into sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems. In the sympathetic system, the soma of the preganglionic
neurons is usually located in the spine while in the parasympathetic system the soma is
usually in the brainstem or sacral, at the bottom of the spine.

This system allows these functions to take place without needing to consciously think
about them happening. The autonomic system is further divided into two branches:

 Sympathetic division - mobilizes the body, responsible for "fight or flight

response': increase heart rate, breathing rate, higher blood pressure, dilate
pupils, vasoconstriction, etc. Nerves arise from thoracic and lumbar regions. It
releases norepinephrine (noradrenaline), Innervates with greater branching

 Parasympathetic division - relaxes or unwinds the body, is active when body is

at rest, it conserves body energy, directs digestion and waste elimination.
Opposite effects of fight or flight response. Nerves arise from the brain and sacral
ns. It releases acetylcholine (cholinergic). Innervates with less branching.
VI. The parasympathetic division
A. Cranial outflow - these are ANS nerves belonging to the parasympathetic division
(relaxing) that innervate the organs in the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen.
 Oculomotor outflow-smooth muscles in the eye (pupil lens adjustment)

 Facial nerve outflow-stimulate secretion of glands of the head (tears, mucus,

saliva)

 Glossopharyngeal outflow stimulates secretion of a large salivary parotid gland

 Vagus nerve outflow - innervate visceral organs of the thorax (heart and lungs)
and most of the abdomen (liver gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, small intestine,
and stops half way through large intestine) through the autonomic nerve
plexuses

B. Sacral outflow - This section runs from s2-s4 and innervates the abdominal and
pelvic organs the vagus nerve outflow did not innervate, including large intestine,
rectum, bladder, and reproductive organs.
VII. The sympathetic division
This division innervates more organs and is more complex than the parasympathetic
A. basic organization - The sympathetic system innervates the integument: its glands
and the arrector pili in addition to internal organs and blood vessels. There is also more
ganglia due to the preganglionic and postganglionic cell bodies.
 Sympathetic trunk a ganglia - There are 22-24 sympathetic trunk ganglia that run
along the sides of the vertebral column (next to the centrum) in a vertical
direction from neck to pelvis. The ganglia connect to long synaptic chains called
sympathetic trunks so the overall appearance a "beaded chain. The sides of the
ganglia (contains cell bodies) connect so spinal nerves (running horizontally) by
gray and white rami communicates. Thus the axon of the postganglionic neuron
joins the spinal nerves.

 Prevertebral ganglia - Some ganglia does not lie on the sides of the vertebral
column but anterior to it along a large abdominal artery (abdominal aorta). They
are not paired and occur only in the abdomen and pelvis.

B. Sympathetic pathways - Typically the preganglionic neuron sends the axon from
the spinal cord out through the ventral root to spinal nerve to the white ramus
communicates into the sympathetic trunk where it synapses with the postganglionic
neuron that sends its axon through the gray communicates out through the spinal
nerves and finally to the organ it innervates.
C. Role of the adrenal medulla in the sympathetic division - A gland that sits on the
superior aspect of the kidney. It releases norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and
epinephrine (adrenaline) into the blood stream to excite the body in time of fight, flight,
or fright' response.

Evaluation.
A. Multiple Choice:
Direction: Each item is followed by four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the
letter of the correct answer and write it on the blank provided.
1. In peripheral nervous system the nerves that arise from spinal cord and brain are
called as _____________
A. Spinal nerves

B. Cranial nerves

C. Temporal nerves

D. Frontal nerves

2. Peripheral nervous system of human as ___________ pairs of spinal nerves.

A. 21

B. 11

C. 31

D. 12

3. A receptors that are sensitive to the body's internal changes, either visceral or
chemical changes, taste, and temperature are called ___________
A. Exteroceptors.

B. Interoceptors

C. Prorioceptors

D. Sensory Receptors
4. Which of the following is not a part of peripheral nervous system?
 A. Cranial nerve

B. Ganglion

C. Spinal nerve

D. Spinal cord

5. Which of the following nerve is purely motor nerve?

A. Trigeminal

B. Vagus

C. Facial

D. Abducens

6. What classification of stimulus detected define as respond to light such as those

found in the eye.

A. Mechanoreceptors

B. Thermoreceptors

C. Chemoreceptors

D. Photoreceptors

7. Skeletal muscles are controlled by __________

A. Somatic nerves

B. Autonomic nerves

C. Parasympathetic nerves

D. Sympathetic nerves

8. Which of the following statements is false? _______

A. The parasympathetic pathway is responsible for resting the body, while the
sympathetic pathway is responsible for preparing for an emergency.
B. Most preganglionic neurons in the sympathetic pathway originate in the spinal
cord.
C. Slowing of the heartbeat is a parasympathetic response.
 D. Parasympathetic neurons are responsible for releasing norepinephrine on the
target organ, while sympathetic neurons are responsible for releasing
acetylcholine.
9. Autonomic nervous system affects ______
A. Reflex actions

B. Sensory organs

C. Visceral organs

D. None of the mentioned

10. Neurons come in which different type(s)?

A. Sensory
B. Motor
C. Skeletal
D. A and B

11. This nerves define as nerves that serve the head and neck
A. Cranial nerves

B. Skin nerves

C. Bones nerves

D. None of the above

12. The axons that synapse with either muscle or glands to activate them.
A. Cranial nerves

B. Peripheral motor endings

C. CNS

D. All of the above

13. In which of the part of Cranial Nerves that sensory nerves for smell, it runs below
the frontal lobe, purely sensory, cerebrum.
A. Olfactory nerve

B. Oculomotor nerve

C. Optic nerve
 D. Trochlear nerves

14. A brain tract existing through the optic chiasma.

A. Oculomotor nerve

B. Olfactory nerve

C. Trochlear nerve

D. Optic nerve

15. Which of the choices below is define that caudal to optic chiasma it innervates
internal eye muscles to move the eye and eyelids?
A. Olfactory nerve

B. Trochlear nerve

C. Oculomotor nerve

D. Optic

16. It innervates the superior oblique muscles of the eye.

A. Trochlear nerve

B. Optic nerve

C. Oculomotor

D. Olfactory nerves

17. How many pairs of cranial nerves originate from the brain of a rat?
A. 8

B. 10

C. 11

D. 12

18. It has three branches that carry sensory information

A. Trochlear nerve

B. Abducens nerve

C. Trigemiral nerve
 D. Facial nerve

19. Which of the following that innervate visceral organs of the thorax and most of the
abdomen through the autonomic nerve plexuses?

A. Oculomotor outflow
B. Facial nerve outflow
C. Glossopharyngeal outflow
D. Vagus nerve outflow

20. Who is our teacher in Human Anatomy and Physiology?

A. Ma’am Toks

B. Ma’am Linang

C. Ma’am Satol

D. Ma’am Parcon

B. Identify True or False: Write T if the statement is true and F if the statement is false.
Write it on the blank space provided.
T 1. In spinal nerves there are 31 pairs of nerves existing the spinal column?
F 2. Innervation of the back supply intercostals mucsles, skin or anterior and lateral
throrax and abdomen?
T 3. Peripheral nervous system is part of a nervous system?
F__ 4. Somatic is PNS division that controls involuntary responses?
F___5. Autonomic is PNS division that handles voluntary movement in the body?
T___ 6. Involuntary movement is unconsciously controlled
T__ 7. Voluntary movement is consciously controlled?
F___ 8. Sensory neuron transmit messages away from CNS?
T___ 9. Motor neuron detect various sensations such as pain and heat?
T___ 10. Ma’am Satol is our teacher in human anatomy?
Assignment:
Essay.
1. What exactly is the peripheral nervous system and what role does it play in the
body?
2. Differentiate the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system?
3. Give at least one (1) parts of PNS and explain.

4. Why do we need to study nervous system?

5. Name the twelve cranial nerves and explain the functions associated with each.

MODULE DRAFT BY:

DALIMBANG-MALIGA, RASHEEYA D.