The Central Nervous System is made up of the brain and the spinal cord.

receives

sensory input from the spinal cord as well as from its own nerves (e.g., olfactory and optic nerves) devotes most of its volume (and computational power) to processing its various sensory inputs and initiating appropriate and coordinated motor outputs.

to

the

brain

Both the spinal cord and the brain consist of white matter = bundles of axons each coated with a sheath of myelin gray matter = masses of the cell bodies and dendrites each covered with synapses.

 In

the spinal cord, the white matter is at the surface, the gray matter inside. In the brain of mammals, this pattern is reversed. However, the brains of "lower" vertebrates like fishes and amphibians have their white matter on the outside of their brain as well as their spinal cord.

cerebrum

spinal cord

cerebellum

 outermost

layer contains the cerebral cortex (grey matter) middle layer contains the white matter innermost layer contains grey matter called the basal ganglia

cerebral cortex

thalamus
cerebrum hypothalamus

cerebellum

mid-brain

pons varolii
spinal cord medulla oblongata
Acknowledgement: Picture of model from Mentone Educational Centre C15

 thinking
reasoning learning memory intelligence sense

of responsibility perception of the senses initiation and control of voluntary muscle contraction

 sensory

areas interpret impulses from receptors. motor areas control muscular movements. association areas are involved with intellectual and emotional processes.

 heart rate body temperature movement of food

canal food and water intake patterns of waking and sleeping contraction of the urinary bladder sexual cycles sensory information from internal organs associated with fear and anger the release of hormones from the pituitary gland

through the alimentary

 The

cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses.

The cerebellum processes input from other areas of the brain, spinal cord and sensory receptors to provide precise timing for coordinated, smooth movements of the skeletal muscular system. A stroke affecting the cerebellum may cause dizziness, nausea, balance and coordination problems.

 The

spinal cord is the main pathway for information connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system. The length of the spinal cord is much shorter than the length of the bony spinal column.

 conducts

sensory information from the peripheral nervous system (both somatic and autonomic) to the brain conducts motor information from the brain to our various effectors

skeletal muscles cardiac muscle smooth muscle glands

serves

as a minor reflex center