Central nervous system 7251 226058810 2008-07-16T17:19:57Z Dwayne Reed 7262504 /* Neuroanatomy */ added image [[Image:Central nervous system.svg|thumb|200px|A diagram showing the CNS:<br />'''1.''' Brain<br />'''2.''' Central nervous system<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<small>(brain and spinal cord)</small><br>'''3.''' Spinal cord]] The '''central nervous system''' ('''CNS''') of the [[vertebrate]] [[nervous system]] which is enclosed in [[meninges]]. It contains the majority of the nervous system, and consists of the [[brain]] (in vertebrates which have brains), and the [[spinal cord]]. Together with the [[peripheral nervous system]], it has a fundamental role in the control of [[behavior]]. The CNS is contained within the [[dorsal cavity]], with the brain within the [[cranial cavity]], and the spinal cord in the [[spinal cavity]]. The brain is also protected by the skull, and the spinal cord is, in vertebrates, also protected by the vertebrae. <ref>{{cite book | last = Maton | first = Anthea | authorlink = | coauthors = Jean Hopkins, Charles William McLaughlin, Susan Johnson, Maryanna Quon Warner, David LaHart, Jill D. Wright | title = Human Biology and Health | publisher = Prentice Hall | date = 1993 | location = Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA | pages = 132-144 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-13-981176-1}}</ref> ==Function== {{Main|Brain Function}} Since the strong theoretical influence of [[cybernetics]] in the fifties, the central nervous system is conceived as a system devoted to information processing, where an appropriate [[motor output]] is computed as a response to a sensory input. Yet, many threads of research suggest that motor activity exists well before the maturation of the sensory systems and then, that the senses only influence behaviour without dictating it. ==Neuroanatomy== [[Image:Structural.gif|thumb|right|Para-sagittal MRI of the head]] {{Main|Neuroanatomy}} The telencephalon gives rise to the [[striatum]] (caudate nucleus and putamen), the [[hippocampus]] and the [[neocortex]], its cavity becomes the [[lateral ventricles]] (first and second ventricles). The diencephalon give rise to the [[subthalamus]], [[hypothalamus]], [[thalamus]] and [[epithalamus]], its cavity to the [[third ventricle]]. The mesencephalon gives rise to the [[tectum]], [[pretectum]], [[cerebral peduncle]] and its cavity develops into the [[mesencephalic duct]] or cerebral aqueduct. Finally, the rhombencephalon gives rise to the [[pons]], the [[cerebellum]] and the [[medulla oblongata]], its cavity becomes the fourth ventricle. <center> <table style="width:75%" border=1 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0> <tr> <td rowspan=6> [[Central nervous system|Central <br> nervous <br> system]] <td rowspan=5>[[Brain]]</td> <td rowspan=2>[[Prosencephalon]]</td> <td>[[Telencephalon]]</td> <td colspan=2> [[Rhinencephalon]], [[Amygdala]], [[Hippocampus]], [[Neocortex]], [[Lateral ventricles]] </td> </tr> <tr> <td>[[Diencephalon]]</td> <td colspan=2> [[Epithalamus]], [[Thalamus]], [[Hypothalamus]], [[Subthalamus]], [[Pituitary gland]], [[Pineal gland]], [[Third ventricle]] </td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3">[[Brain stem]]</td> <td>[[Mesencephalon]]</td> <td colspan=2> [[Tectum]], [[Cerebral peduncle]], [[Pretectum]], [[Mesencephalic duct]] </td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan=2>[[Rhombencephalon]]</td> <td> [[Metencephalon]] </td> <td> [[Pons]], [[Cerebellum]], </td> </tr> <tr> <td>[[Myelencephalon]] </td> <td>[[Medulla oblongata]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 align="left">[[Spinal cord]] </td> </tr> </table> </center> ==Evolution== {{Main|Brain}} The basic pattern of the CNS is highly conserved throughout the different species of [[vertebrates]] and during evolution. The major trend that can be observed is towards a progressive telencephalisation: while in the reptilian brain that region is only an appendix to the large olfactory bulb, it represents most of the volume of the mammalian CNS. In the human brain, the telencephalon covers most of the diencephalon and the mesencephalon. Indeed, the [[allometry|allometric]] study of brain size among different species shows a striking continuity from rats to whales, and allows us to complete the knowledge about the evolution of the CNS obtained through [[cranial endocast]]s. <br> ''See also:'' [[Encephalization]], [[Neocortex]], [[Archicortex]] ==Parts of the vertebrate CNS== {{Main|List of regions in the human brain}} In addition to the structures seen to the right in table above, a vast number of structures are present in the adult brain. ==See also== * [[Glossary of anatomical terminology, definitions and abbreviations]] * [[Central nervous system infection]] * [[Neuroradiology]] ==References== <references/> ==External links== * [http://www.sylvius.com Sylvius: 400+ structure neuroanatomical visual glossary] * [http://primate-brain.org High-Resolution Cytoarchitectural Primate Brain Atlases] * [http://www.marymt.edu/~psychol/brain.html Human Brains: A Learning Tool]. * [http://www.humannervoussystem.info Explaining the human nervous system]. * [http://www.backrack.co.uk/nervous_index.shtml Nervous System - Back Pain - Anatomy (info on nerve pairs)]. * [http://www.mfi.ku.dk/ppaulev/content.htm Textbook in Medical Physiology And Pathophysiology, many links] * [http://www.northland.cc.mn.us/biology/AP2Online/Fall2002/AP2PowerPoint/AP2Brainlecture_files/v3_document.htm Brain and Cranial Nerves, Anatomy and Physiology Lecture, Northland Community College] *[http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/ Latest Research on the Brain and Central Nervous System] From [http://www.sciencedaily.com/ ScienceDaily] {{Nervous system}} {{Nervous tissue}} [[Category:Neurology]] [[Category:Nervous system]] [[Category:Central nervous system| ]] [[ar:جهاز عصبي مركزي]] [[ast:Sistema nerviosu central]] [[bs:Centralni nervni sistem]] [[ca:Sistema nerviós central]] [[cs:Centrální nervová soustava]] [[da:Centralnervesystemet]] [[de:Zentralnervensystem]] [[dv:ސެންޓްރަލް ނާރވަސް ސިސްޓަމް]] [[es:Sistema nervioso central]] [[fr:Système nerveux central]] [[io:Centrala nervaro]] [[is:Miðtaugakerfið]] [[it:Sistema nervoso centrale]] [[he:מערכת העצבים המרכזית]] [[lt:Centrinė nervų sistema]] [[mk:Централен нервен систем]] [[nl:Centraal zenuwstelsel]] [[ja:中枢神経系]] [[no:Sentralnervesystemet]] [[pl:Ośrodkowy układ nerwowy]] [[pt:Sistema nervoso central]] [[ro:Sistemul nervos central]] [[ru:Центральная нервная система]] [[simple:Central nervous system]] [[sk:Centrálna nervová sústava]] [[sl:Osrednje živčevje]] [[sr:Централни нервни систем]] [[fi:Keskushermosto]] [[sv:Centrala nervsystemet]] [[th:ระบบประสาทกลาง]] [[vi:Hệ thần kinh trung ương]] [[tr:Merkezî sinir sistemi]] [[uk:Центральна нервова система]] [[zh:中樞神經系統]]