A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers (called axons). Nerves have historically been considered the basic units of the peripheral nervous system.
Most of the time when doctors use the term “nerve,” they’re referring to the part of your nervous system outside of your brain and spinal cord. This is called your peripheral nervous system.Your nervous system uses nerve cells called neurons to send signals, or messages, all over your body. These electrical signals travel among your brain, skin, organs, glands and muscles.:background_color(FFFFFF):format(jpeg)/images/library/14141/Nerve_cropped.jpg){kind=logo}
What is a nerve? In this article we clarify the types of nerves in the body, nerves vs neurons, and explore the cranial and spinal nerves.