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Central nervous system facts for kids

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Central Nervous System
1201 Overview of Nervous System.jpg
Schematic diagram showing the central nervous system in yellow, peripheral in orange
Latin Systema nervosum centrale
pars centralis systematis nervosi
Lymph 224
MeSH 197
Code WM1

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 cavity.

Parts of the vertebrate CNS

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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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sistema nervioso central para niños

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