If you’ve ever experienced pins and needles, or an uncomfortable tingling sensation in your extremities, then you have firsthand knowledge of the peripheral nervous system at work.
This complex network of nerves and receptors is responsible for sending communications between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. But how does it all work?
In this blog post, we’ll break down the basics of the peripheral nervous system and explore some of its key functions.
The Peripheral Nervous System
The first thing to know about the peripheral nervous system is that it’s made up of two distinct divisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
Somatic nerves are responsible for relaying sensory information from our body to the brain, whereas autonomic nerves send signals in response to external cues.
The autonomic nervous system is further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The sympathetic system is generally responsible for stimulating your body to prepare for stressful situations, like fleeing from danger or powering through a challenging workout.
Conversely, the parasympathetic nervous system stimulates activities like digesting food or performing regular maintenance tasks.
The peripheral nervous system as a whole is sometimes referred to as the “vital nervous system,” because it controls all of the activities that keep us alive and functioning.
It’s Complicated
If you’ve ever tried to study for an anatomy class, you’ll know how mind-numbingly complex the human body can be. The peripheral nervous system is no different.
It may be helpful to think of this system as a series of interconnected wires, each responsible for relaying specific messages.
The problem with trying to simplify the peripheral nervous system into a single analogy, though, is that it’s not even an actual network in the traditional sense.
Unlike a logical network, where nodes send and receive specific signals as part of a pre-defined protocol, the peripheral nervous system is more like a constantly changing mesh.
Nerves branch out from your brain and spinal cord into long chains that reach every nook and cranny of your body. These chains don’t always follow a clearly defined path and may change form multiple times over the course of their journey.
In addition, not all peripheral nerves function exactly the same way. Some are designed to keep tabs on external conditions and relay that information to the central nervous system for analysis, while others may be in charge of relaying signals in response to specific external cues like temperature or pressure.
As you can tell, then, it’s easy to see why the peripheral nervous system is so complicated. Despite this fact, however, there are still some general constants that apply to most of these nerves.
As mentioned earlier, for example, the somatic and autonomic systems are considered two distinct divisions within the peripheral nervous system. But even these two categories are subdivided further into subgroups of nerves that behave slightly differently.
All told, the peripheral nervous system can be divided into more than a dozen distinct categories. It’s just one of the reasons this system is so difficult to study.
How Does The Peripheral Nervous System Work?
While there’s still plenty we don’t know about this vital system, what we do know is that it’s incredibly complex.
What follows is a general overview of how the peripheral nervous system functions, but keep in mind that there are some notable exceptions to these rules.
The first step in understanding how it all works is knowing which nerves function as messengers and which ones play more of an administrative role.
In general, however, peripheral nerves function in one of two ways: they either relay sensory information to the brain or send signals from the CNS back out into the body.
This process begins when a nerve cell detects a specific external stimulus and relays that message along its long chain of branches to nearby nerve cells.
Eventually, this message reaches a “final common path,” where it is then relayed to either the brain or an effector organ.
Effector organs are basically any body part that’s capable of responding directly to a sensory stimulus, like your muscles, heart, and glands. In response, these receptors will send signals back up the nerve chain towards the CNS for analysis.
In the case of autonomic nerves, they do a lot of the same things that somatic nerves do. The only difference is that autonomic signals don’t typically travel as far along a nerve chain before being processed in the brain.
As for sensory information, this is where things get a bit more complicated.
The most obvious example of sensory nerves is the somatic nerves, which provide information about touch, pressure, heat/cold, and pain across the body.
But What About Internal Organs Like Your Heart Or Stomach?
If you think about it, these muscles should also be considered forms of “sense” since they’re capable of detecting changes in their surrounding environment.
In reality, however, they’re technically considered part of the autonomic nervous system even though sensory nerves still play an important role in relaying information from these organs to the brain.
That’s because many of these autonomic functions have more to do with internal bodily processes rather than external triggers.
Even so, sensory neurons are still essential for relaying information from both the CNS and effector organs to higher brain centers.
In general, then, the peripheral nervous system is responsible for carrying sensory information from sense receptors throughout the body and relaying it towards the brain for analysis. The autonomic division of this system also sends signals back in response to internal stimuli like hormonal changes.
In short, the peripheral nervous system is what allows us to interact with our environment on a basic level, from internal changes in mood to external stimuli like touch and heat.
For example, a simple cut would be a form of external stimulus that triggers a chain reaction that ends with pain receptors sending signals back towards the brain for analysis.
As for how the brain analyzes these signals, that’s something we’ll touch on in a future article. Until then, take comfort in knowing that you now know more about your body than most people do!
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Ways To Improve Peripheral Nervous System Function And Overall Health
In general, the best way to improve your body’s nervous system is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By eating well and exercising regularly, you can lower your risk of developing many serious health conditions that impair nerve function over time, such as high blood pressure or obesity.
You can also help avoid illness by getting plenty of sleep on a regular basis and taking care of yourself when you’re sick.
Nonetheless, your body will benefit from the right supplements and drugs.
We’ll outline a few of these to help give you an idea of what we’re talking about:
Fish oil – Most people know that fish oil is good for the heart and brain as it helps reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure. However, fish oil is also good for your peripheral nervous system because it promotes nerve growth factor production in your body. Studies have shown that these fatty acids are essential for helping maintain the health of nerves, which helps prevent neuropathy over time.
Acetyl-l-carnitine – This supplement has the ability to improve the function of peripheral nerves, according to several studies. Some research has even suggested that acetyl-l-carnitine can increase the rate of nerve regeneration as well as reduce pain associated with peripheral neuropathy.
CBD oil – CBD oil is a proven nerve pain reliever that has been linked to many benefits for the body’s nervous system. There have been several studies that suggest this compound can help alleviate neuropathic pain, which is typically difficult for doctors to treat.
In fact, cannabinoids have been shown to possess neuroprotective properties as well, which means they may also protect brain cells from damage.
Arnica – Arnica is an herbal remedy that has been used for centuries to treat various types of pain and discomfort. Its natural anti-inflammatory properties can be helpful when it comes to alleviating symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, which often causes severe muscle pain in the hands and feet.
Glutathione – Many people experience neuropathy symptoms due to a buildup of free radicals and toxins in their bodies. Since glutathione is a natural antioxidant, it’s good for the immune system and the damage that free radicals can cause to your nervous system.
Nervolink Supplement- NervoLink is a dietary supplement to support the health of their peripheral nerves. It provides essential nutrients to the nerve sheaths, for example, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12.
The ingredients like Cordyceps Sinensis Powder, Reishi Mushroom Extract, Shiitake Mushroom Extract, Lions Mane, Chaga Mushroom extract, White Button Mushroom, Royal Sun Agaricus, and Black Fungus promote blood circulation in the body.
NervoLink is made of all-natural ingredients that are safe to use on a daily basis. The capsules are easy to swallow without any aftertaste and have had no side effects so far.
There are other supplements that can help you maintain a healthy body, but these are the most important to take note of.
If you have any special health concerns, be sure to talk to your doctor before incorporating new medications or supplements into your regimen.
This way, you’ll know for sure if something is safe for you and your body.