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peripheral nervous system
noun
: the part of the nervous system that is outside the central nervous system and comprises the cranial nerves excepting the optic nerve, the spinal nerves, and the autonomic nervous system
Examples of peripheral nervous system in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The wave of prions slowly accumulates, spreading through the spleen and the lymph nodes and through the peripheral nervous system into the central nervous system.
—Sophie Hartley, Scientific American, 10 Jan. 2025
This changes how your brain and peripheral nervous system respond to pain, providing relief.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 3 Jan. 2025
The toxin acts on both the central and peripheral nervous systems and can cause numbness, increasing stages of paralysis, gastrointestinal distress and respiratory failure.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Fight or flight gut check The study focused on a subset of the peripheral nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system, which becomes active when the brain detects danger.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 12 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1846, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of peripheral nervous system was
in 1846
Dictionary Entries Near peripheral nervous system
Cite this Entry
“Peripheral nervous system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peripheral%20nervous%20system. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
peripheral nervous system
noun
: the part of the nervous system that is outside the central nervous system and is made up of the autonomic nervous system, the spinal nerves, and the cranial nerves except the optic nerve
Medical Definition
peripheral nervous system
noun
: the part of the nervous system that is outside the central nervous system and comprises the cranial nerves excepting the optic nerve, the spinal nerves, and the autonomic nervous system
More from Merriam-Webster on peripheral nervous system
Britannica English: Translation of peripheral nervous system for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peripheral nervous system
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