Central nervous system

The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The skull and the bones of the spine protect this part of our nervous system. The central nervous system controls all bodily functions and is therefore the body's control system.

The brain

The brain consists of:

• Cerebrum
• Cerebellum
• Brainstem

The cerebrum (cerebrum)

The cerebrum consists of two halves, the left and right hemisphere. They process signals from the body and the environment and control voluntary movements. In addition, the cerebrum is the place where cognitive (knowledge) and emotional (feeling) processes are processed.

The cerebellum (cerebellum)

The cerebellum is responsible for controlling voluntary movements. Movements are initiated in the cerebrum; the cerebellum coordinates these movements.

If there is damage to the cerebellum, this can lead to jerky movements and balance problems. We also see this with excessive alcohol use. The cerebellum is the structure first affected by alcohol.

The brainstem (truncus cerebri)

The brainstem is responsible for vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and temperature. Damage to the brainstem is life-threatening. If the brainstem no longer functions while the cerebrum and cerebellum still do, a person is brain dead. In conditions such as coma and unconsciousness, the brainstem still functions.

The spinal cord

The spinal cord is like a tube containing nerves that descend from the brain within the spine. Not all nerves enter the spinal cord. The 12 pairs of cranial nerves go directly to areas in the head and neck.

Function

The central nervous system has 3 functions:

• It is the reception center for all information that the senses pick up.
• It processes the received information and stores it in memory.
• It controls muscles and organs in the body.