Question

Discuss one specific subdivision of the nervous system and provide examples of its general locations.

Answer 1

Nervous system broadly has 2 subdivisions:-

1. Central nervous sytem
2. Peripheral nervous system

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Central nervous system comprises of brain and spinal cord.

1. Brain- Receives and processes sensory information, initiates response, stores,memories generates thoughts and emotions. The brain is the center of our thoughts, the interpreter of our external environment, and the origin of control over body movement. It interprets information from our eyes (sight), ears (sound), nose (smell), tongue (taste), and skin (touch), as well as from internal organs such as the stomach.
2. Spinal cord- Conducts signals to and from the brain, controls reflex activities. The spinal cord is the highway for communication between the body and the brain. When the spinal cord is injured, the exchange of information between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.

• Function- Central nervous system controls all voluntary movement, such as speech and walking, and involuntary movements, such as blinking and breathing. It is also the core of our thoughts, perceptions, and emotions.

• Its main line of defense is the bones of the skull and spinal column, which create a hard physical barrier to injury. A fluid-filled space below the bones, called the syrnix, provides shock absorbance.

• Cells of the central nervous system include Neurons, Astrocytes, Microglia and Oligodendrocytes.

• Location- The CNS is contained within the dorsal body cavity, with the brain loacted in the cranial cavity and the spinal cord in the spinal canal. In vertebrates, the brain is protected by the skull, while the spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae. The brain and spinal cord are both enclosed in the meninges.