These B.Pharm notes on peripheral nervous system (Chapter 20 of Human Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I) summarise the key points for first semester pharmacy students and link to the complete PDF.
Table of Contents
Read the following document for full information
Chapter overview
The peripheral nervous system connects the brain and spinal cord with the rest of the body. It includes twelve pairs of cranial nerves and thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves, which are grouped into the somatic division, controlling voluntary movement and sensation, and the autonomic division, controlling involuntary functions. The autonomic system has sympathetic and parasympathetic parts that usually act in opposition. This chapter also covers neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and noradrenaline, the reflex arc and common peripheral nerve disorders.
Key points on peripheral nervous system
- Cranial and spinal nerves: number, names and functions
- Somatic nervous system overview
- Autonomic nervous system: sympathetic and parasympathetic
- Neurotransmitters and receptors
- Reflex arc and peripheral nerve injuries
Relevance to pharmacy practice
The autonomic nervous system is the target of many drug groups. Beta-blockers and alpha-agonists act on adrenergic receptors, atropine blocks muscarinic receptors, and neostigmine increases acetylcholine. Knowing the effects of sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation on the heart, eye, gut and bladder helps predict a drug’s actions and side effects. This chapter therefore prepares students for autonomic pharmacology.
Frequently asked questions
How many pairs of cranial and spinal nerves are there?
There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
The sympathetic division (fight or flight) and the parasympathetic division (rest and digest).
What is a reflex arc?
The pathway of a reflex, consisting of a receptor, sensory neuron, integration centre, motor neuron and effector.
Quick revision checklist
Before moving on, check that you can do each of the following without looking at your notes. Use this list on peripheral nervous system as a self-test: tick a statement only when you can answer it aloud. Revisit any statement you cannot answer, then re-read the matching section of the PDF. Repeating this cycle two or three times before an exam builds the recall and confidence you need for both theory papers and viva.
- I can explain: cranial and spinal nerves: number, names and functions
- I can explain: somatic nervous system overview
- I can explain: autonomic nervous system: sympathetic and parasympathetic
- I can explain: neurotransmitters and receptors
- I can explain: reflex arc and peripheral nerve injuries
Study and exam tips
Read the key points on peripheral nervous system first, then study the PDF notes and redraw the main diagrams from memory. Link each concept to a drug or clinical example, and revisit the chapter before your internal and university examinations. Short daily revision works better than one long session. For additional reading, see the NCBI Bookshelf.
In B.Pharm examinations, short answer questions usually ask for definitions, classifications and labelled diagrams, while long answers on peripheral nervous system ask for detailed descriptions with examples. Learn the headings in the order given in your syllabus, and add one clinical or drug-related example to each long answer to earn extra marks.
This post is part of the free B.Pharm Guru notes for the first semester. Every chapter of Human Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I has a short summary, key points and a downloadable PDF written for the B.Pharm course, so you can revise quickly or study in depth.
Bookmark this page and share it with your classmates. If you find an error or want a topic explained in more detail, tell us through the contact page so the notes can be improved for every student. Good notes grow through feedback from the students who use them.
Previous chapter (Chapter 19): hematological diseases. Next chapter (Chapter 21): special senses – structure and functions of eye. View all HAP-I chapters.
