Peripheral Nervous System - GCSE Psychology Definition

What is the Peripheral Nervous System?

In GCSE psychology, the peripheral nervous system, or PNS, refers to all the nerves throughout the body. The PNS is responsible for transmitting messages throughout the whole body from the brain and relaying messages back to the brain.

The PNS is divided into two sections:

• The somatic nervous system (SNS), which transmits and receives messages from the senses

  • The SNS controls voluntary muscle movements

• The autonomic nervous system (ANS), which transmits and receives information from the organs

  • The ANS involuntarily governs vital functions in the body