What composes the Peripheral Nervous System?

• A. Brain and Spinal Cord
• B. Hormones
• C. Muscles
• D. Nerves Outside CNS

Answer: (D)

The Peripheral Nervous System is made up of all neural structures outside the brain and spinal cord. It includes the cranial nerves, spinal nerves, peripheral ganglia, and the networks that carry sensory information to the CNS and motor commands from the CNS to muscles and glands, including the autonomic branches that regulate involuntary functions. The brain and spinal cord stay in the Central Nervous System, hormones belong to the endocrine system, and muscles are targets of nervous signals rather than components of the PNS. So, nerves outside the CNS compose the Peripheral Nervous System.