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peripheral nervous system (PNS)
nerves that branch from the central nervous system including nerves of the brain (cranial nerves) and spinal cord (spinal nerves)
cranial nerves
12 pairs of nerves arising from the brain
spinal nerves
31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
sensory nerves
nerves that conduct impluses from body parts and carry sensory information to the brain; also called afferent nerves
motor nerves
nerves that conduct motor impulses from the brain to muscles and glands; also called efferent nerves
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
nerves that carry involuntary impulses to smooth muscle, cardiac muscles and various glands
hypothalamus
control center for the autonomic nervous system located below the thalamus (diencephalon)
sympathetic nervous system
division of the autonomic nervous system that is concerned primarily with preparing the body in stressful or emergency situations
parasympathetic nervous system
division of the autonomic nervous system that is most active in ordinary conditions; it counterbalances the effects of the sympathetic system by restoring the body to a restful state after a stressful experience