peripheral nervous system

American  

noun

1. the portion of the nervous system lying outside the brain and spinal cord.

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peripheral nervous system Scientific  

1. The part of the nervous system in vertebrate animals that lies outside of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). It includes the nerves that extend to the limbs and many sense organs.

2. Compare central nervous system

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peripheral nervous system Cultural  

1. The nerves outside of the central nervous system that make up part of the vertebrate nervous system.

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Etymology

Origin of peripheral nervous system

First recorded in 1930–35

Compare meaning

How does peripheral-nervous-system compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• central nervous system vs. peripheral nervous system

Example Sentences

An autopsy identified inflammation in Bass’s peripheral nervous system and in his heart muscles—similar to Anderberg’s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

That creates what Mr Willison describes as an "immunological Russian roulette", triggering an "acute neurological tsunami" that surges through the peripheral nervous system.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2025

Leprosy primarily affects the skin and peripheral nervous system, causing physical deformity and desensitizing one’s ability to feel pain on affected skin.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2024

The peripheral nervous system is made up of all the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord to give us sensation throughout our bodies.

From Science Daily • Nov. 28, 2023

The peripheral nervous system consists of thirty-one pairs of nerves, with their end-organs, branching off from the cord, and twelve pairs that have their roots in the brain.

From The Mind and Its Education by Betts, George Herbert