Question

Are peripheral nerves part of the central nervous system?

Answer 1

No, they are part of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) along with the ganglia on the outside of the brain and the spinal cord.

Explanation:

Although the Central Nervous System (CNS) is the ruling part of the Nervous System, the Peripheral Nervous System's function is to connect the CNS to the limbs and organs, essentially serving as a communication relay going back and forth between the brain and the extremities.

It must be why it was separated from the CNS because the PNS functions as messengers and connectors rather than the ones dictating the actions, or so I like to think.