What are groups of neuron cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system called?

• A. Ganglia
• B. Nuclei
• C. Cortices
• D. Plexuses

Answer: (A)

Groups of neuron cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system are called ganglia. This naming reflects how the PNS organizes its cell bodies outside the brain and spinal cord, unlike the CNS where cell bodies cluster into nuclei or form cortical layers. For example, dorsal root ganglia house the cell bodies of sensory neurons that bring information from the body into the spinal cord, while autonomic ganglia contain the cell bodies of postganglionic neurons that control target organs. In contrast, nuclei are collections of neuron cell bodies within the CNS, cortices refer to the outer gray matter layers of the brain, and plexuses describe networks of nerve fibers rather than clusters of cell bodies.