Which portion of the nervous system includes nerves that do not pass through the spinal cord?

The correct response is focused on the structure and function of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The peripheral nervous system encompasses all the nerves outside the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and spinal cord. The PNS is divided into sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) pathways, and it includes the cranial nerves and spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to innervate various parts of the body.

Importantly, certain nerves in the PNS, such as those that are cranial nerves, directly connect the brain to other regions of the body without passing through the spinal cord. This structure allows the motory and sensory systems to function independently of the CNS for various reflex actions and voluntary movements.

The central nervous system is not the correct choice since it only includes the brain and spinal cord. The autonomic nervous system, which is a component of the PNS, regulates involuntary bodily functions and does include some nerves that do not pass through the spinal cord, but it does not represent the entirety of the PNS. Finally, the somatic nervous system, also part of the PNS, is primarily concerned with voluntary movements and sensory information, but it too relies on the overall framework of