peripheral nervous system: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “peripheral nervous system” mean?
The part of the nervous system consisting of nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord, responsible for connecting the central nervous system to limbs and organs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The part of the nervous system consisting of nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord, responsible for connecting the central nervous system to limbs and organs.
The network of nerves that transmits signals between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the rest of the body, controlling sensation, voluntary movement, and involuntary functions of glands and internal organs. In a metaphorical sense, it can represent the supporting, secondary, or interface network of a larger system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Pronunciation differences are limited to slight vowel and stress variations (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard and equally common in medical/biological contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “peripheral nervous system” in a Sentence
The PNS consists of...Damage to the PNS can cause...Signals travel through the PNS to...X is controlled by the PNS.A disorder affecting the PNS.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “peripheral nervous system” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The signal is peripherally transmitted before central processing.
American English
- The condition can peripherally affect nerve function.
adverb
British English
- The sensation was perceived peripherally, not centrally.
American English
- The drug acts peripherally on the nervous system.
adjective
British English
- She has a peripheral neuropathy diagnosis.
- The study focused on peripheral nerve regeneration.
American English
- He was tested for peripheral nerve damage.
- The device monitors peripheral nervous activity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare, except metaphorically in tech: 'The IoT devices act as the peripheral nervous system of our smart factory, feeding data to the central server.'
Academic
Common in life sciences, medicine, neuroscience, psychology, and biology textbooks/research. Precise anatomical definition is expected.
Everyday
Very rare. If used, likely in a context of explaining a medical condition: 'The doctor said it's a problem with my peripheral nervous system.'
Technical
The primary context. Used with precision in medical diagnosis, neurology, physiology, and anatomical description.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “peripheral nervous system”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “peripheral nervous system”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “peripheral nervous system”
- Mispronouncing 'peripheral' as /ˈper.ɪ.fər.əl/ (stress on first syllable). Correct stress is on the second syllable: /pəˈrɪf.ər.əl/.
- Using 'peripheral nervous system' to refer to minor or unimportant nerves (conflating with the general adjective 'peripheral'). It is a specific, major anatomical division.
- Incorrect hyphenation: 'peripheral-nervous-system' is not standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes all the nerves that branch out from the CNS to the rest of the body (limbs, organs, skin).
Yes. Damage is often called neuropathy. It can result from injury, diseases like diabetes, infections, or toxins, leading to pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness.
It contains both. The somatic part controls voluntary movements (e.g., lifting your arm). The autonomic part controls involuntary functions (e.g., heartbeat, digestion).
'Peripheral' comes from Greek, meaning 'to carry around'. Anatomically, it designates structures located away from a centre or central mass—in this case, the nerves outside the central brain and spinal cord.
The part of the nervous system consisting of nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord, responsible for connecting the central nervous system to limbs and organs.
Peripheral nervous system is usually technical/scientific in register.
Peripheral nervous system: in British English it is pronounced /pəˌrɪf.ər.əl ˈnɜː.vəs ˌsɪs.təm/, and in American English it is pronounced /pəˌrɪf.ər.əl ˈnɝː.vəs ˌsɪs.təm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STARFISH. The central disc is the brain/spinal cord (Central Nervous System). The arms reaching out to sense and move are the Peripheral Nervous System.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COMMUNICATION NETWORK or DATA HIGHWAY: The PNS is the cabling (nerves) that connects the central computer (brain) to all the remote sensors and actuators (limbs, skin, organs).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?