Central nervous system
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The human
central nervous system consists of the
brain and
spinal cord. These lie in the midline of the body and are associated with the
skull and
vertebrae respectively.
The central nervous system along with the
peripheral nervous system comprise a primary division of controls that command all physical activities of a vertebrate. Neurons of the central nervous system affect consciousness and mental activity while spinal extensions of central nervous system neuron pathways affect skeletal muscles and organs in the body.
The peripheral system is made of two divisions, the
somatic nervous system and the
autonomic nervous system, which is further divided as the
sympathetic nervous system, the
parasympathetic nervous system and the
enteric nervous system. Each of these interact with various organs, glands or muscles, providing information to and from the central nervous system.
Arguably still the most complex object known to man, this collection of billions of
neurons known as the central nervous system is the seat of
consciousness and the central controller over just about everything that makes us
human.
Related topics
\n*List of regions in the human brain
Parts of the central nervous system
\nCategory:Nervous system