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The Central Nervous System Is Made Up Of

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What Is The Nervous System?

A system of nervous tissue in vertebrates that includes the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord. The central nervous system controls voluntary movements such as walking and speaking and involuntary movements such as breathing and reflexes. It is also the center of emotion and cognition. It is one of the two major parts that comprise the human nervous system, the other being the peripheral nervous system (nerves that carry impulses to and from the central nervous system).

The brain and spinal cord are covered by protective membranes called meninges, and both float in crystal-clear cerebrospinal fluid. The central nervous system is mostly contained within the axial skeleton, in which the brain is enclosed in a bony vault, the neurocranium, while the cylindrical and elongated spinal cord is contained in the spinal canal, which is formed by successive vertebrae connected by dense ligaments. The nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord. It acts as the body’s control center, processing sensory information and directing responses. The CNS coordinates voluntary activities such as movement and involuntary activities such as breathing and heart rate.

However, the brain cannot do this alone, as it needs to receive information from the body’s sensory receptors, which it achieves through communication with the spinal cord.

The CNS is named ‘central’ because apart from occupying a central position in the body, the CNS is an important part of the nervous system for managing and generating behaviour.

Peripheral Nervous System (human Anatomy): Picture , Functions, Diseases And Treatments

The central nervous system consists of three main components: the brain, the spinal cord, and nerve cells: the brain

The brain is responsible for functions such as thinking, forming memories, movement and cognition. The human brain has three main parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brainstem.

The brainstem is located at the base of the brain and is one of the most primitive regions of the brain; and the midbrain, made up of the pons and medulla oblongata.

Located on the brain stem, the cerebellum monitors and controls motor behavior, especially automatic movements and balance.

What Is The Nervous System

The cerebrum is the most recently developed part of the human brain and is the largest part of the brain (it accounts for about 85% of the total mass). The cerebrum is divided into two cerebral hemispheres that work together to produce various functions such as voluntary behaviors, speech, cognitive thinking, and cognition.

The left hemisphere is responsible for controlling movements on the right side of the body, while the right hemisphere is responsible for controlling movements on the left side of the body.

The surface of the cerebrum is covered by the cerebral cortex, commonly known as gray matter. Gray matter consists of a thin layer of tissue, approximately 3 mm thick, containing billions of neurons. Gray matter is the structure through which memories are stored, perceptions take place, and information is processed.

Neurons in the gray matter are connected to other parts of the brain by a layer of nerve fibers called white matter, so named because of the shiny white appearance of the insulating material.

The Central Nervous System

Gray matter is characteristically wrinkled in appearance – filled with bumps separated by grooves. Bulges in the brain are called gyrus or gyri in the plural. The grooves in the brain are called fissures. Fissures and gyri expand the surface area in the cerebral cortex, ultimately increasing the number of neurons it contains.

Animals with large and high-functioning brains, such as humans and some mammals, have very convoluted brains and, thus, large cerebral cortices.

The spinal cord is a long, thin collection of neurons attached to the base of the brain (brain stem) that runs the length of the spinal column.

The spinal cord contains circuits of neurons that can control some of our simplest reflexes, such as moving a hand away from a hot surface without involvement from the brain.

Central Nervous System Made Brain Spinal Cord Illustration Stock Photo By ©my_box_pra 627132628

The CNS communicates with the rest of the body through nerves, which are bundles of fibers that transmit signals to and from the CNS. Nerves attached to the spinal cord form the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Nerve roots exit the spinal cord and travel to both sides of the body, carrying messages back and forth between the brain and peripheral nerves.

The central structure of the spinal cord is made up of gray matter and the peripheral tissues are made up of white matter. Within the spinal cord, there are 30 segments, each belonging to one of four divisions:

There are billions of cells that help the brain and spinal cord function, relaying messages throughout the CNS and body.

Amazon.com: Creative Teaching Press The Nervous System Chart (5712)

Neurons, or nerve cells, communicate with each other to send and receive messages in the brain and spinal cord. Neurons work together to transmit sensory information to the brain and are responsible for making decisions, emotions and muscle activity.

There are approximately 86 billion neurons in the CNS, with thousands of distinct subtypes identified that perform different functions. Each neuron is made up of a cell body (soma), axons, and dendrites.

Glial cells are non-neuronal cells in the CNS that do not transmit messages themselves but protect and support neurons. Glia cells constitute about 90% of the total cells in the CNS. There are three types of glial cells in the CNS: astrocytes, microglial, and oligodendrocytes.

Astrocytes are the main supporting cells of the CNS, which manufacture and secrete proteins called neurotrophic factors (which support the growth and survival of neurons). These types of cells help remove harmful proteins and chemicals that damage neurons.

Central Nervous System Tumors (brain And Spinal Cord)

Microglia cells are responsible for removing damaged neurons and infections and are important for maintaining the health of the central nervous system. They also produce molecules called cytokines that regulate cellular immunity in response to injury.

Oligodendrocytes are responsible for producing a fatty substance called myelin, which is used as insulation that wraps around the axons of neurons. Myelin is essential for neurons to carry electrical messages at higher speeds than neurons that are not insulated by myelin.

Because the central nervous system is vital for a variety of functions and survival, it is exceptionally well protected. The skull covers the brain and the spinal cord runs through a column of hollow bones called vertebrae.

In addition, the brain and spinal cord are protected by three-layered membranes called the meninges (the layers are specifically called the pia mater, arachnoid, and dura mater).

Somatic Nervous System

To ensure that the brain and spinal cord do not come into direct contact with any bones of the skull or vertebrae, they float in a clear fluid called cerebrospinal fluid.

Cerebrospinal fluid fills the space between the two meninges, as well as circulates within the ventricles of the CNS, providing a cushion around the brain and spinal cord, protecting them from damage.

Noback, C. R., Ruggiero, D. A., Strominger, N. L., & Demarest, R. J. (Eds.). (2005) The Human Nervous System: Structure and Function (No. 744). Springer Science and Business Media.

Saul McLeod, PhD, is a qualified psychology teacher with 18 years’ experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Teaching The Nervous System

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. He has previously worked in the healthcare and education sectors. The picture of the nervous system in your mind probably includes the brain, the nerve tissue inside the cranium, and the spinal cord, the extension of nerve tissue inside the spinal column. Additionally, the nervous tissue that extends from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body (nerves) is part of the nervous system. We can anatomically divide the nervous system into two major regions: the central nervous system (CNS) brain and spinal cord, peripheral nervous system (PNS) nerves (Figure 12.1.1). The brain lies within the cranial cavity of the skull and the spinal cord lies within the spinal canal of the spinal cord. It is so named because the peripheral nervous system is in the periphery – that is, beyond the brain and spinal cord.

Figure 12.1.1 – Central and Peripheral Nervous System: CNS consists of brain and spinal cord, PNS consists of nerves.

In addition to the anatomical divisions listed above, the nervous system can be divided based on its functions. The nervous system is involved in receiving information

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