What does the peripheral nervous system consist of?

The correct choice accurately identifies the components of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS is comprised of all the nerves and ganglia outside of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. Specifically, it encompasses the sensory neurons that bring information from the body’s periphery to the central nervous system and the motor neurons that carry signals from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands. This system plays a crucial role in connecting the brain and spinal cord with various parts of the body, allowing for communication and coordination of functions.

In contrast, the other options focus solely on aspects that do not capture the complete structure or function of the peripheral nervous system. The reference to only the brain or only the spinal cord misrepresents the PNS by limiting it to the central nervous system components, which are not part of the definition of the PNS. Including both the brain and spinal cord also incorrectly categorizes them as peripheral structures, when in fact they are central to the overall nervous system. Thus, option C is the only one that properly encompasses the broader scope of the peripheral nervous system.