The peripheral nervous system contains nerves, cranial nerve nodes and spinal nerves located along their course (ganglia). It connects with the internal organs, skin and muscles of the central nervous system (CNS). Based on this connection, the peripheral nervous system is of two types: autonomic and somatic. The latter is formed by those nerves that connect the central nervous system with muscles, skin and tendons. The autonomic nervous system includes those nerves that the central nervous system binds to glands, blood vessels, and internal organs.
Sensitive nerve fibers together with motor nerves make up the spinal nerves. Receptors are located on the skin, muscles, mucous membrane, internal organs, tendons. These formations are the beginning of sensitive fibers. They send signals that contain data about the state of the body and its environment to the central nervous system. On the motor fibers, on the contrary, the central nervous system sends signals to the vessels, internal organs, muscles. Thus, it controls the body's response to certain stimuli perceived by receptors.
Twelve pairs of cranial nerves are connected to the brain. Thanks to them, the nasal and oral cavities, larynx, mucous membrane of the eyes, and facial skin remain sensitive. They also provide a connection of the central nervous system with all receptors of hearing, taste, vision and smell. These are somatic fibers, and vegetative ones control the functioning of the glands (both lacrimal and salivary), also participate in the process of respiration, in the work of the heart and digestive organs.
The peripheral nervous system must very quickly deliver motor or sensory impulses to the central nervous system. This is imperative to ensure an early connection between the brain, spinal cord and receptors.
The peripheral nervous system of a person is susceptible to a considerable number of diseases. Their causes are the most varied: poisoning, trauma, pinching of nerves, impaired circulation or metabolism, inflammation. Often there is a combination of several factors.
The classification of these diseases depends on which part of the peripheral nervous system is affected. If the ends of the spinal cord become inflamed, sciatica occurs, if the nerve plexuses are affected, pleurisy. More often peripheral neuropathy is manifested by a complex of symptoms. So, if a part of the spinal cord suffers, plexitis, neuritis, radiculitis appear. They are accompanied by pain in the direction of the nerve trunks, the sensitivity of the skin in this area decreases, muscle weakness appears, gradually they atrophy. Manifestations are the same, only the localization of the lesion changes.
But with damage to any of the cranial nerves, there is a violation of the perception of visual images, sound signals and smells, but there is no pain, loss of sensitivity. The peripheral nervous system has several departments, therefore, the treatment of diseases depends on the cause that caused them and on which part of it is affected. After a thorough examination, the doctor prescribes medications, physiotherapeutic procedures. Depending on the severity of the disease, the patient is offered a hospital stay or day hospital. Surgical intervention is used only in case of rupture of the peripheral nerves resulting from trauma.
Disease prevention consists in observing safety precautions when working with poisons. Subcooling should be avoided. Patients with diabetes mellitus, in order to prevent diabetic polyneuritis, should visit a doctor regularly and undergo a special preventive course. Smokers and alcoholics are particularly prone to lesions of this system.