Before we dive deep in the peripheral nervous system we have to know, what is

nervous system?

The nervous system is that part of the body which consist of the brain, spinal cord,
and nerves . It is perhaps the most intricate of all body systems.

Function of nervous system:

The nervous system functions to regulate and coordinate all body activities and to
detect changes in the internal and external environment, evaluate the information, and
respond to the stimuli by bringing about bodily responses. It is the center of all mental
activity, including thought, learning, and memory

The nervous system is divided into two main parts

-the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord.

-the peripheral nervous system, which consists of a paired series of cranial and spinal
nerves and their associated ganglia.

And here we will discus the peripheral nervous system itself..…

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The peripheral nervous system is divided based on region into:-

•12 pairs of cranial nerves that originate from the brain and upper part of spinal cord.

•31 pairs of spinal nerves that originate from the spinal cord.

The PNS is made up of nerves and ganglia. A nerve is a cordlike bundle of nerve
fibers that transmits impulses to and from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of
the body.A ganglion is a knotlike mass of nerve cell bodies located outside the CNS.
The PNS contains afferent (sensory) nerves (which carry impulses from the body to
the CNS to be processed) and efferent (motor) nerves, which carry impulses from the
CNS to the muscles and glands—causing the target organs to do something in
response to the commands received.

The PNS is further broken down into:-

●The somatic nervous system (( voluntary))

●The autonomic nervous system((involuntary)) ,which also divide into sympathetic

and parasympathetic nervous system

The somatic nervous system (SNS) provides voluntary control over skeletal muscle
contractions, and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) provides involuntary control
over smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glandular activity and secretions in response
to the commands of the CNS.

■The ANS contains two types of nerves:-

Sympathetic, located in spinal nerves

and,

Parasympathetic, located in four of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves.

Sympathetic nerves regulate essential involuntary body functions such as increasing

the heart rate, constricting blood vessels, and raising the blood pressure. Responding
to the “fight-or-flight response,” the body prepares to deal with immediate threats to
the internal environment.

The parasympathetic nerves regulate essential involuntary body functions such as

slowing the heart rate, increasing peristalsis of the intestines, increasing glandular
secretions, and relaxing sphincters . Responding to “rest-or-digest response,” —thus
serving as a complement to the SNS and returning the body to a more restful state.
 Scheme of various part peripheral nervous system

Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal
cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your
hands and feet. It can also affect other areas of your body.
Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic
problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is
diabetes.
Symptom

Every nerve in your peripheral system has a specific function, so symptoms depend on
the type of nerves affected. Nerves are classified into:

•Sensory nerves that receive sensation, such as temperature, pain, vibration or touch,
from the skin, damage in this type of nerves cause lose of sensation in the area of skin
supplied by the nerve is damaged (e.g. saphenous nerve entrapment causes lose in
sensation in the medial aspect of leg extend from the knee joint to the ankle)

•Motor nerves that control muscle movement, damage in the nerves that supply
muscles cause weakness or paralysis in the muscle or group of muscles that are
supplied by it, and sometimes leading to specific condition (e.g. sciatic nerve
entrapment can cause paralysis to all or part of the muscles below the knee and the
hamistring compartment of the thigh _ depending of the severity of the nerve damage_
as they are supplied by the terminal branches of the sciatic nerve leading to a codition
called foot drop)

•Autonomic nerves that control functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, digestion
and bladder(e.g. It can affect blood pressure, temperature control, digestion, bladder
function and even sexual function)
Some condition caused by peripheral neuropathy
1_Clawhand by the ulnar nerve injury

2_wrist_drop by radial nerve injury

3_hand of benediction by median nerve injury

4_footdrop by common peroneal nerve injury

5_winged scapula by long thoracic nerve injury

References
1_Handbook of Peripheral Nerve Entrapments by Oscar A. Turner, MD, FACS,
Norman Taslitz, PhD, and Steven Ward, PhD (1990).

2_Comprehensive Medical Terminology 3rd Edition by Betty Davis Jones (2008).

3_Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions 10th edition by LAWRENCE E. WINESKI

(2019).

4_https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-
neuropathy/symptomscauses/syc-20352061 (2019)