Peripheral nervous system includes

• A. Central nervous system
• B. Peripheral nervous system
• C. Brainstem
• D. Cerebral cortex

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is distinguishing what belongs to the peripheral nervous system versus the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes all neural elements outside the brain and spinal cord—cranical nerves, spinal nerves, their roots and ganglia, plus autonomic and enteric nerves. These structures handle transmitting sensory information from the body to the CNS and delivering motor commands from the CNS to muscles and glands. In contrast, the brainstem and cerebral cortex are parts of the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord. So, when asked what the peripheral nervous system includes, you’re identifying the components outside the CNS.