What is the Difference Between Central and Peripheral Nervous System?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) are two subdivisions of the nervous system that serve different functions and structures. The main differences between them are:
- Organs and structures: The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS consists of all other nerves and ganglia. The PNS is further subdivided into the autonomic and somatic nervous systems.
- Function: The CNS is responsible for processing, integrating, and interpreting information, while the PNS's main job is to supply the face and the rest of the body with nerves that travel from the spinal cord and brain. The PNS collects sensory information and sends it to the CNS and also carries signals that allow muscles to move and controls vital, unconscious processes like heartbeat and breathing.
- Sensory vs. motor: The PNS can be divided into an afferent (sensory) division and an efferent (motor) division. The sensory division transmits impulses from peripheral organs to the CNS, while the motor division sends impulses from the CNS to muscles and glands.
- Unconscious vs. conscious: The autonomic nervous system, part of the PNS, controls involuntary processes like heartbeat and breathing, while the somatic nervous system, also part of the PNS, controls voluntary processes like moving skin, bones, joints, and skeletal muscles.
In summary, the CNS is the control center responsible for processing and interpreting information, while the PNS serves as the communication network that connects the CNS to the rest of the body, transmitting sensory and motor signals and controlling involuntary and voluntary processes.
Comparative Table: Central vs Peripheral Nervous System
The central and peripheral nervous systems are two major components of the vertebrate nervous system. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:
| Feature | Central Nervous System (CNS) | Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord, and processes information and sends it out to the body. | The PNS is a network of spinal and cranial nerves linked to the brain and spinal cord, and contains sensory receptors that help process changes in the internal and external environment. |
| Function | The CNS is responsible for coordinating the sensory impulses obtained from both external and internal environments. | The PNS is involved in the transmission of sensory impulses from its sensory receptors into the CNS, and the receiving nerve impulses are processed in the brain and the relevant responses are sent to the effector organs. |
| Subdivisions | The CNS is divided into various centers located within the brain and spinal cord, which carry motor and integration of data. | The PNS is subdivided into the autonomic nervous system (involuntary control of internal organs, blood vessels, smooth and cardiac muscles) and the somatic nervous system (voluntary control of skin, bones, joints, and skeletal muscle). |
| Structure | The CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord, which are vital organs that should be protected from damage. | The PNS is composed of neurons and neuron clusters called ganglia. |
| Role in Coordination | The CNS is responsible for coordinating the sensory impulses and sending relevant responses to the effector organs. | The PNS is responsible for transmitting sensory impulses from its sensory receptors into the CNS, which are then processed in the brain and sent to the effector organs. |
In summary, the central nervous system is responsible for processing information and sending it out to the body, while the peripheral nervous system is responsible for transmitting sensory impulses from sensory receptors to the central nervous system. Both systems work together to coordinate the body's functions.
- Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Nervous System vs Endocrine System
- Somatic vs Autonomic Nervous System
- Dermatomes vs Peripheral Nerves
- Nervous Tissue vs Nervous System
- Sensory vs Motor Nerves
- Cranial vs Spinal Nerves
- Central vs Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
- Nerve vs Neuron
- Central vs Peripheral Tolerance
- Central vs Peripheral Fatigue
- Polyneuropathy vs Peripheral Neuropathy
- Peripheral vs Central Venous Catheter
- Brainstem vs Spinal Cord
- Sensory vs Motor Neurons
- Muscular Tissue vs Nervous Tissue
- Precentral vs Postcentral Gyrus
- Afferent vs Efferent
- Nerves vs Hormones