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Central nervous system

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A diagram showing the CNS:
1. Brain
2. Central nervous system
    (brain and spinal cord)
3. Spinal cord

The central nervous system (CNS) is the largest part of the nervous system. It is made up of the brain and the spinal cord.

Together with the peripheral nervous system, it has an important role in the control of behaviour. The CNS is protected by bone in the dorsal cavity: the brain in the cranial subcavity, and the spinal cord in the spinal canal.

Parts of the vertebrate CNS

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Spinal cord
Brain Brain stem Rhombencephalon

Pons, Cerebellum, Medulla oblongata

Mesencephalon

Tectum, Cerebral peduncle, Pretectum, Mesencephalic duct

Prosencephalon Diencephalon

Epithalamus, Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Subthalamus, Pituitary gland, Pineal gland, Third ventricle

Telencephalon

Rhinencephalon, Amygdala, Hippocampus, Neocortex, Lateral ventricles

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