Consists of nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body.
Autonomic NS (ANS)
Annotations:
Regulates involuntary or "automatic" functions. Conducts impulses from the spinal cord or brainstem to cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glandular epithelial tissues.
Sympathetic NS
Annotations:
Emergency system designed for "fight" or "flight" responses. Reacts to any sort of stress on the body.
Parasympathetic
Annotations:
Counterbalances the sympathetic nervous system. Responsible for digestion and other visceral processes.
Somatic NS
Annotations:
Motor nerves control voluntary actions of skeletal muscle.
Central NS
Annotations:
Centrally located. Protected by meninges, skull, vertebral column.