Nervous System - Peripheral

• The Peripheral Nervous System which in turn is divided into Somatic Peripheral Nervous System and Autonomic Peripheral Nervous System. The Peripheral Nervous System consists mainly of nerve cells or neurons
• There are 12 pairs of Cranial Nerves, connected from the brain to the organs in the head, and 31 pairs of Spinal Nerves, connected from the spinal cord to the neck and lower parts of the body.
• in the Somatic Peripheral Nervous System, the motor neurons carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to voluntary muscles, enabling the body to respond under conscious awareness.
• In the Autonomic Peripheral Nervous System, the motor neurons carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to involuntary muscles like the cardiac muscles of the heart and smooth muscles of blood vessels, digestive organs, and the glands, enabling these organs to respond even without conscious awareness
• The Autonomic Peripheral Nervous System is further subdivided into Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System. The Sympathetic Nervous System is responsible for our actions in emergency situations wherein our body functions are heightened like fast breathing and heartbeat, to prepare the body for a “fight or flight” response.
• The Parasympathetic Nervous System works when the body is relaxed or responsible for returning the body to a normal state like slowing the breathing and heartbeat after an emergency