Central Nervous System Function

In human anatomy, the nervous system is basically a network of specialized cells which coordinate the action of an individual by sending signals from one part of the body to another. This information may be in form of electrochemical waves or chemical release. The nervous system is basically divided into two parts - the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, made up of the sensory neurons, and nerves which connect them to each other. In order to understand the central nervous system functions easily, one has to be well versed with the anatomy of central nervous system.

Central Nervous System

The central nervous system is one of the most important organs of the nervous system. It is made up of two of the most vital organs in the human body - the brain and the spinal cord. The brain weighs approximately 3 lbs, while the spinal cord is about 42 to 45 cm in length. Both of them make up a large part of the entire nervous system. Central nervous system functions include coordinating the activities between the various parts of the human body. Working in collaboration with the peripheral nervous system, central nervous system plays a fundamental role in controlling the behavior in various multicellular organisms.

Central Nervous System Functions

As we said earlier, the central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord, both of which play an important role on physical as well as mental aspects of our life. The brain plays a major role in controlling the various body functions, which include movement, sensation, thinking, memory, speech, etc. On the other hand, the spinal cord is connected to the brain at a particular section of the brain referred to as the brainstem. The brain is divided into two halves, the right brain and the left brain. Right brain functions include visual and spatial skills, memory storage in auditory and visual modalities, whereas left brain functions include sequential analysis, memory storage in particular order, logical interpretations etc. The brain is further divided into several regions, each of which is assigned a specific function. For instance, the frontal lobe deals in cognition and memory, while the parietal lobe looks after processing of sensory input. The spinal cord and central nervous system neurons located within it are primarily assigned the responsibility of transmitting messages back and forth between the brain and the peripheral nerves. Although the brain and spinal cord work together to control various functions of the body, reflex movements can occur through spinal cord pathways, without any of the structure of brain getting involved in the process.

Any damage caused to the head or spine can lead to some adverse effects on the individual's body and hamper various nervous system functions. Our brain is protected by the skull, whereas the spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae or the spinal column, but this doesn't mean both these organs are safe from injuries. In fact, in several causes the spinal cord is damaged or punctured by the vertebrae itself. These injuries may range from a shock which may last for a few hours, to more severe conditions, such as complete paralysis.

This was brief information about the central nervous system function and its structure. These central nervous system functions play an important role in various activities, which means any damage caused to the central nervous system can affect our day-to-day life. One has to take some precautionary methods, especially when indulging in various physical activities to ensure that the brain and nervous system are not harmed by any injury.