The Peripheral Nervous System

The peripheral nervous system is usually defined as the cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and peripheral ganglia which lie outside the brain and spinal cord. To describe the structure and function of this system in one book may have been possible last century. Today, only a judicious selection is possible. It may be fairly claimed that the title of this book is not misleading, for in keeping the text within bounds only accounts of olfaction, vision, audition, and vestibular function have been omitted, and as popularly understood these topics fall into the category of special senses. This book contains a comprehensive treatment of the structure and function of peripheral nerves (including axoplasmic flow and trophic func­ tions); junctional regions in the autonomic and somatic divisions of the peripheral nervous system; receptors in skin, tongue, and deeper tissues; and the integrative role of ganglia. It is thus a handbook of the peripheral nervous system as it is usually understood for teaching purposes. The convenience of having this material inside one set of covers is already proven, for my colleagues were borrowing parts of the text even while the book was in manuscript. It is my belief that lecturers will find here the information they need, while graduate students will be able to get a sound yet easily read account of results of research in their area. JOHN 1. HUBBARD vii Contents SECTION I-PERIPHERAL NERVE Chapter 1 Peripheral Nerve Structure 3 Henry deF. Webster 3 1. Introduction .