Video Transcript
What are the components of the
central nervous system? (A) The brain and the spinal
cord. (B) The brain and the cranial
nerves. (C) The spine and the spinal
nerves. (D) The nerves in the body outside
of the brain and the spinal cord.
This question asks us about the
central nervous system. Looking at the answer choices, they
may seem confusing because they repeat some of the same components. So, to gain some clarity to choose
the right answer, let’s review how the central nervous system is organized.
The nervous system is divided into
two main parts: the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is
further divided into the sensory and motor divisions. These divisions are made of the
nerves in the body outside of the spinal cord, like the spinal nerves, and all of
the cranial nerves which are outside of the brain.
Now, the central nervous system is
further divided into the brain and the spinal cord. The brain, which is protected by
the skull, serves as the command center of our body, because it processes and
integrates the information from the peripheral nervous system. The spinal cord is protected by the
spine and receives sensory information from the peripheral nervous system. It processes the information and
transmits it up to the brain.
So, to identify the correct answer,
we are looking for the answer choice that includes both the brain and the spinal
cord. Several answer choices include the
brain or the spinal cord. But since they only include one
component of the central nervous system, they are not the correct answer choice. One answer choice describes the
peripheral nervous system since it states all of the nerves outside of the brain and
spinal cord, making it incorrect. This process of elimination leaves
us with the only answer choice that includes both components of the central nervous
system.
So the components of the central
nervous system are the brain and the spinal cord.
