Central nervous system

A diagram showing the CNS:
1. Brain
2. Central nervous system
    (brain and spinal cord)
3. Spinal cord

The central nervous system (CNS) is the largest part of the nervous system. It is made up of the brain and the spinal cord.

Together with the peripheral nervous system, it has an important role in the control of behaviour. The CNS is protected by bone in the dorsal cavity: the brain in the cranial subcavity, and the spinal cord in the spinal cavity.

• See also: Vertebrate brain

Parts of the vertebrate CNS

Spinal cord
Brain	Brain stem	Rhombencephalon		Pons, Cerebellum, Medulla oblongata
		Mesencephalon		Tectum, Cerebral peduncle, Pretectum, Mesencephalic duct
	Prosencephalon	Diencephalon		Epithalamus, Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Subthalamus, Pituitary gland, Pineal gland, Third ventricle
		Telencephalon		Rhinencephalon, Amygdala, Hippocampus, Neocortex, Lateral ventricles

Central Nervous System Media

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  Diagram of the columns and of the course of the fibers in the spinal cord. Sensory synapses occur in the dorsal spinal cord (above in this image), and motor nerves leave through the ventral (as well as lateral) horns of the spinal cord as seen below in the image.

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  Different ways in which the CNS can be activated without engaging the cortex, and making us aware of the actions. The above example shows the process in which the pupil dilates during dim light, activating neurons in the spinal cord. The second example shows the constriction of the pupil as a result of the activation of the Eddinger-Westphal nucleus (a cerebral ganglion).

• 

  A map over the different structures of the nervous systems in the body, showing the CNS, PNS, autonomic nervous system, and enteric nervous system.

• 

  Schematic image showing the locations of a few tracts of the spinal cord.

• 

  Reflexes may also occur without engaging more than one neuron of the CNS as in the below example of a short reflex.

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  Diagram depicting the main subdivisions of the embryonic vertebrate brain, later forming forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.

• 

  Development of the neural tube

Other websites

• Sylvius: 400+ structure neuroanatomical visual glossary; used by over half of U.S. medical schools
• High-Resolution Cytoarchitectural Primate Brain Atlases Archived 2019-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
• Human Brains: A Learning Tool Archived 2007-06-25 at the Wayback Machine.
• Explaining the human nervous system Archived 2017-06-26 at the Wayback Machine.
• Nervous System - Back Pain - Anatomy (info on nerve pairs) Archived 2007-08-07 at the Wayback Machine.
• Textbook in Medical Physiology And Pathophysiology, many links Archived 2009-08-03 at the Wayback Machine
• Brain and Cranial Nerves, Anatomy and Physiology Lecture, Northland Community College Archived 2007-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
• Latest Research on the Brain and Central Nervous System From ScienceDaily