What comprises the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

The Central Nervous System (CNS) is primarily comprised of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain serves as the control center of the body, responsible for processing sensory information, regulating bodily functions, and coordinating movement. The spinal cord acts as a crucial information highway, transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body, providing pathways for both sensory and motor information.

The inclusion of only the brain, cranial nerves, or peripheral nerves does not accurately describe the complete structure of the CNS. Cranial nerves, while they originate from the brain, are part of the Peripheral Nervous System, which connects the CNS to the limbs and organs. Similarly, the peripheral nerves are also not part of the CNS; they serve to relay information to and from the Central Nervous System but do not form part of it. Thus, the accurate understanding of the CNS requires recognizing that it encompasses both the brain and the spinal cord.