What does the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) connect to?

The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) serves a crucial role in connecting the central nervous system (CNS)—which comprises the brain and spinal cord—to the rest of the body. This system includes all the nerves that branch out from the CNS and extend into the limbs and organs, facilitating communication between the CNS and various body parts. It is essential for transmitting sensory information to the brain and motor commands from the brain to the muscles. This connectivity allows for coordinated bodily functions and responses to environmental stimuli.

Understanding the distinctions among the options helps clarify why this choice is accurate. The first option inaccurately implies a connection strictly between the brain and spinal cord, which are part of the CNS itself. The third option focuses on a specific interaction between organs and skeletal muscles but does not encompass the broader function of the PNS. Lastly, the fourth option suggests a relationship between autonomic functions and the CNS, which again does not fully capture the PNS's primary function of connecting the entire body to the central nervous system.