Central Nervous System

Central Nervous System

The Central Nervous System (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is one of the two major divisions of the nervous system, the other being the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) which connects the CNS to the rest of the body.

Structure

The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is an intricate organ responsible for controlling many functions of the body, including voluntary actions (like walking) and involuntary actions (like breathing). It is also the seat of consciousness, thought, memory, and emotion. The spinal cord, on the other hand, is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column.

Function

The primary function of the CNS is to integrate the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterally symmetric animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish. It processes information and decides on an action that is communicated to the appropriate part of the body.

Clinical significance

Damage to the CNS can cause a wide range of clinical conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, and traumatic injuries, such as spinal cord injury and brain injury.

See also

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Neuroanatomy