Basic Training Series: Nervous System: Central Nervous System

The Nervous System has 3 main divisions. They are:

- Central Nervous System
- Peripheral Nervous System
- Autonomic Nervous System (which has 3 sub-divisions: 1) Sympathetic 2) Parasympathetic 3) Enteric)

In this post, I will summarize the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS).

The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Briefly about the brain....

- evolved from 5 vesicles in the cranial section of the neural tube
- vesicles are bilateral, mostly symmetrical and specialized

- 5 vesicles are:

• Cerebral Hemisphers
• Diencephalon
• Mid Brain
• Pons
• Medulla
• *Cerebellum (should be 6th region)

- interconnected by a 4 chamber ventricular system with connecting aqueduct 

Briefly about the spinal cord....

• thin, cylinder like structure
• attached to the brain 
• 5 sections with 31 segments 
• Cervical (8 segments)
• Thoracic (12 segements)
• Lumbar (5 segments)
• Sacral (5 segments)
• Coccygeal (1 segement)
• Each segment has a pair of spinal nerves
• transmission of sensory information to the brain
• regulation of motor and autonomic functions

QUICK OBSERVATIONS:

1) The brain is VERY COMPLEX. Just knowing those 6 regions will take some time but basically it IS the control center of the body. My friend, Peter, likes to call it the President of the body. It's not so much a king because others systems have a lot of input and say of what happens with the body but in the end the President makes the decisions along with input from others. 

2) The spinal cord is the super information highway of the nervous system, and it also mediates motor and autonomic functions; but it still has to answer to the brain in the final say so. 

Well, thats enough. Just wanted to keep these short and sweet. 

I'd love to hear from you with questions or comments. 

In mind, body and spirit,

Will