peripheral nervous system

noun

1. the portion of the nervous system lying outside the brain and spinal cord.

peripheral nervous system

1. The part of the nervous system in vertebrate animals that lies outside of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). It includes the nerves that extend to the limbs and many sense organs.
2. Compare central nervous system

peripheral nervous system

1. The nerves outside of the central nervous system that make up part of the vertebrate nervous system .

Word History and Origins

Origin of peripheral nervous system¹

First recorded in 1930–35