# Peripheral Nervous System --- The **peripheral nervous system** or **PNS** is the part of the [[nervous system]] that includes the [[nerves]] and [[nerves|ganglia]], or in other words the parts that extend off of the [[central nervous system]]. It connects the CNS to the rest of the body. The PNS is made up of two division, the *afferent division*, which *receives* sensory information from various stimuli and relays it to the [[central nervous system|CNS]], and the **efferent** division which receives signals from the [[central nervous system|CNS]] and relays those instructions to the muscles or glands that are then activated. The PNS is responsible for a wide variety of [[reflexes]], which are actions that our bodies perform automatically in response to stimulus—without conscious control from the CNS. ## Somatic & Autonomic The [[somatic nervous system|somatic]] division of the PNS has to do with *perceptible* stimuli, (like from touch or pressure) and the *voluntary* actions that we are aware of controlling. Like moving our hand to pick up a book, or feeling the texture of a brick. The [[autonomic nervous system|autonomic]] division (ANS) of the PNS has to do with *imperceptible* stimuli, (like from pressure-sensors in our blood vessels) and the *involuntary* actions that we may feel, but are unable to consciously control, like sweating on a hot day. The ANS is further divided into the [[sympathetic nervous system|sympathetic]] and the [[parasympathetic nervous system|parasympathetic]] nervous systems. ## Afferent & Efferent The [[afferent nervous system|afferent]] or **sensory division of the PNS** is the division of the PNS that has to do with *receiving* signals from **sensory receptors**. These can be either **perceptible** stimuli, (which move through the [[somatic nervous system|somatic]] division) or **imperceptible** (which move though the [[autonomic nervous system|autonomic]] division) The [[efferent nervous system|efferent]] or **motor division of the PNS** is the division of the PNS that has to do with signals sent from the [[central nervous system|CNS]] to effectors—i.e. [[muscle tissue|muscles]] or [[epithelial tissue|glandular epithelium]]. These signals are conducted through [[efferent nervous system|motor neurons]] to either voluntary (in the [[somatic nervous system|somatic]] division) or involuntary (in the [[autonomic nervous system|autonomic]] division) ![[pns.png]] ___