Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The *peripheral nervous system* (**PNS**) comprises all nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord. Its primary role is connecting the central nervous system with limbs and organs throughout the body. The PNS relays sensory input from external stimuli back to the CNS and transmits motor commands from CNS outwards. It consists of two main divisions: *Somatic Nervous System*: Controls voluntary movements by innervating skeletal muscles; also transmits sensory information from skin/muscles. *Autonomic Nervous System*: Regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, glandular activity; subdivided into sympathetic ("fight-or-flight"), parasympathetic ("rest-and-digest"), and enteric systems. Unlike most tissues in the CNS, structures in the PNS are not protected by bone or blood-brain barrier making them more susceptible to toxins or physical damage. Diseases can affect individual nerves or groups of nerves within this network but there is no single druggable "peripheral nervous system" target—rather it encompasses many distinct molecular entities including ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, transporters found on neurons/glia within its structure.

Other names

PNSperipheral nervesperipheral neural network