Central Nervous System Flashcards, test questions and answers

Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about Central Nervous System and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on Central Nervous System and get quick solutions for your test.

What is Central Nervous System?

The central nervous system (CNS) is the control center of the body. It consists of the brain and spinal cord, which send messages throughout the body to coordinate its activities. The CNS plays a vital role in controlling behavior, movement, thought, emotions and other important bodily functions. The brain is composed of many different parts that perform various jobs in order to keep us alive and functioning. The cerebrum is responsible for voluntary actions such as writing or speaking; it also processes information from our senses like sight and sound. The cerebellum controls balance and coordination while the hypothalamus helps regulate basic biological needs such as hunger or temperature regulation. Other structures include the thalamus, which acts as a gateway for sensory information heading towards higher centers in the brain, and the limbic system which deals with emotion and memory formation. The spinal cord connects all parts of the body to each other through nerve pathways that transmit electrical signals back-and-forth between structures in your head to those further down your spine into your limbs allowing you to move them voluntarily or involuntarily. Additionally, several reflex arcs exist within this neural network allowing us to react quickly without thinking about it first (like quickly pulling away from something hot). In summary, the CNS provides an efficient way for our bodies to communicate internally so we can respond appropriately to external stimuli & maintain homeostasis. Without it we would be unable to think logically & act upon cognition nor move around with precision – both essential components for successful survival on earth.