What structures comprise the central nervous system?

What structures comprise the central nervous system?

• A. Cranial nerves and ganglia
• B. Brain and spinal cord
• C. Autonomic ganglia
• D. Enteric nervous system

Answer: (B)

The brain and spinal cord form the central nervous system. They are the main processing and control centers of the nervous system, with the brain interpreting sensory information, planning actions, and storing memories, while the spinal cord transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body and handles many reflexes. The other structures—cranial nerves and ganglia, autonomic ganglia, and the enteric nervous system—are components of the peripheral nervous system, connecting the CNS to muscles, glands, and the digestive tract. That distinction is why the brain plus spinal cord is the correct pairing for the central nervous system.

The brain and spinal cord form the central nervous system. They are the main processing and control centers of the nervous system, with the brain interpreting sensory information, planning actions, and storing memories, while the spinal cord transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body and handles many reflexes. The other structures—cranial nerves and ganglia, autonomic ganglia, and the enteric nervous system—are components of the peripheral nervous system, connecting the CNS to muscles, glands, and the digestive tract. That distinction is why the brain plus spinal cord is the correct pairing for the central nervous system.