What Are The Parts Of The Central Nervous System – The central 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 heartbeat.

However, the brain cannot do this on its own because it needs to receive information from the body’s sensory receptors, which it achieves by communicating with the spinal cord.

What Are The Parts Of The Central Nervous System

The CNS is called “central” because in addition to occupying a central position in the body, the CNS is also the most important part of the nervous system for maintaining and producing behavior.

Nervous System, Elementary

The central nervous system has three main components, namely the brain, spinal cord and nerve cells: Brain

The brain is responsible for functions such as thought, memory formation, movement and consciousness. 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 consists of the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata.

The cerebellum is located just above the brainstem, which monitors and regulates motor behavior, especially automatic movements and balance.

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The cerebrum is the most recently developed in the human brain and is the largest part of the brain (making up about 85% of the total mass). The cerebrum is divided into two cerebral hemispheres that work together to produce various functions such as volitional behavior, speech, cognitive thinking, and consciousness.

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, which is often called gray matter. Gray matter consists of a thin layer of tissue, approximately 3 mm thick, that contains billions of neurons. Gray matter is the structure where memories are stored, perceptions occur 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 bright white appearance of the substance that insulates it.

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The gray matter is distinctly wrinkled in appearance – it is full of ridges separated by grooves. The bulge in the brain is called a gyrus, or gyrus, in the plural. The grooves in the brain are called fissures. The fissures and convolutions expand the surface area in the cerebral cortex, ultimately increasing the number of neurons it can contain.

Animals with the largest and better functioning brains, such as humans and some primates, have the most convoluted brains, and thus the largest cerebral cortices.

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

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

The Central Nervous System Works As A Whole. Schematic Drawing By…

The CNS communicates with the rest of the body via nerves, which are bundles of fibers that carry signals to and from the CNS. The nerves that are attached to the spinal cord make up 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 middle structure of the spinal cord consists of gray matter, and the outer tissues of white matter. Inside the spinal cord there are 30 segments, each of which belongs to one of four parts:

In order to transmit messages throughout the CNS and body, there are billions of cells that help the brain and spinal cord function.

Central Nervous System Poster

Neurons, or nerve cells, connect 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 decision making, emotions and muscle activity.

There are approximately 86 billion neurons in the CNS, with thousands of different subtypes identified that serve different functions. Each neuron consists of a cell body (soma), axon and dendrite.

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

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

The Central Nervous System

Microglia cells are responsible for removing damaged neurons and infections and are important for maintaining CNS health. They also produce molecules called cytokines that regulate the cell’s immunity in response to injury.

Oligodendrocytes are responsible for producing a fatty substance called myelin, which is used as the insulation that wraps the axons of neurons. Myelin is necessary for neurons to transmit electrical messages at a much faster rate than neurons that are not insulated by myelin.

Since the central nervous system is vital for various functions as well as survival, it is extremely well protected. The skull encloses the brain, and the spinal cord runs through the middle of a column of hollow bones known as vertebrae.

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

What You Need To Know About The Nervous System

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

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

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

Saul Mcleod, Ph.D., is a qualified teacher of psychology with over 18 years’ experience in further and higher education. It has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Human Nervous System

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and contributing editor for Simply Psychology. She previously worked in the health and education sectors. Home Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Technology Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos

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Central nervous system, a system of nervous tissue in vertebrates consisting of the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system controls both voluntary movements, such as those involved in walking and speaking, and involuntary movements, such as breathing and reflex actions. It is also the center of emotion and cognition. It is one of the two main parts that make up the human nervous system, the other being the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that carry impulses to and from the central nervous system).

Question Video: Describing The Central Nervous System

The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by protective membranes known as meninges, and both float in crystal clear cerebrospinal fluid. The central nervous system lies mainly within the axial skeleton, with the brain encased in a bony vault, the neurocranium, while the cylindrical and elongated spinal cord lies in the spinal canal, which is formed by successive vertebrae connected by dense ligaments.

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