Central nervous system
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The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain, and the spinal cord. The retina is also technically part of the CNS. The CNS is named so because the bra
Schematic diagram showing the central and peripheral nervous system of a human
Dissection of a human brain with labels showing the clear division between white and gray matter.
Different ways in which the CNS can be activated without engaging the cortex, and making us aware of the actions. The above example shows the process in which the pupil dilates during dim light, activating neurons in the spinal cord. The second example shows the constriction of the pupil as a result of the activation of the Eddinger-Westphal nucleus (a cerebral ganglion).
Reflexes may also occur without engaging more than one neuron of the CNS as in the below example of a short reflex.
Spinal cord
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The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue that extends from the medulla oblongata in the lower brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column of vertebrate a
Spinal cord segments and spinal nerves, spinal cord detail, and spinal meninges and conus medullaris
Cross-section of rabbit spinal cord
Cross section of adult rat spinal cord stained using Cajal method
The base of the brain and the top of the spinal cord