Central Nervous System (CNS)

What is the central nervous system?

Your central nervous system (CNS) is part of your nervous system. It consists of your brain and spinal cord. Your CNS collects information from your sensory nerves to process and respond to them. It regulates everything your body does.

What are the three main functions of the central nervous system?

The three main functions of your central nervous system are to:

• Receive sensory information.
• Process the information it receives (integration).
• Respond with motor output.

After your brain gets and understands the data collected by your sensory neurons (nerve cells), it sends an electrical signal through your spinal cord to your muscles and glands to create a motor output. An example of this process is wanting to walk across the room. Your brain sends a signal through your spinal cord to the muscles in your legs. Your muscles react to this signal and allow you to complete the action (motor output) of walking.

How does the central nervous system work?

Your brain regulates your thoughts, feelings and movements. It manages the things you do, like bending your fingers, learning and communicating. It also manages how your organs function by telling you to breathe and digest food. You likely don’t think about these things, but your CNS does.

This process works by sending messages through your nervous system. Your brain creates a message. It sends that message (signal) to your spinal cord. Your spinal cord sends the message to your nerves (peripheral nervous system) to complete an action. Signals travel to and from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body constantly to keep your body functioning.

What does the central nervous system consist of?

Your brain and spinal cord make up your central nervous system.

Where is the central nervous system located?

Your central nervous system is located within your dorsal (back) body cavity. This includes the inside of your head and at the back of your trunk.

What does the central nervous system look like?

Your central nervous system looks like a balloon. Your brain is the round, inflated balloon. Your spinal cord is the string attached to the balloon. Your brain and spinal cord are held within bone structures, connective tissue (meninges) and fluid (cerebrospinal fluid), which protects them.

What are common conditions that affect the central nervous system?

Several conditions can affect your central nervous system. Some of the most common include:

• Alzheimer's disease.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• Brain tumor.
• Inflammation (transverse myelitis).
• Spinal cord trauma.
• Stroke.
• Traumatic brain injury.

What are the signs or symptoms of central nervous system conditions?

Signs and symptoms vary based on what condition affects your central nervous system. You might experience the following:

• Loss of consciousness.
• Muscle weakness or paralysis.
• Dizziness.
• Confusion and/or memory loss.
• Involuntary movements (muscle twitch).
• Headache.
• Pain, tingling or numbness in your arms or legs.
• Seizures.

Contact emergency services immediately if you or a loved one experience symptoms of a stroke like confusion and paralysis on one side of your body. It’s also important to get medical help if you experienced an injury to your head that affects your vision, memory and/or awareness.

What tests check the health of my central nervous system?

The following tests help your healthcare provider check the health of your central nervous system:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG).
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

What treatments are available for central nervous system conditions?

If you have a condition that affects your central nervous system, your healthcare provider will create a treatment plan to address your symptoms and the underlying cause. Treatment varies by type but may include:

• Medications.
• Surgery.
• Rehabilitation or therapy to help with pain management.
• Supportive care.

How do I keep my central nervous system healthy?

Your central nervous system connects to all parts of your body. So, if you stay in good health, your CNS will feel good, too. You can take steps to stay healthy by:

• Eating healthy foods and staying hydrated.
• Exercising regularly.
• Managing any underlying health conditions.
• Regularly visiting your healthcare provider for checkups.
• Protecting yourself from injury like wearing a helmet when playing sports.

In addition to your physical health, your central nervous system manages your thoughts and feelings. You can take care of your mental health by:

• Finding time to rest and relax.
• Getting adequate sleep.
• Spending time with people you care about.
• Setting goals and boundaries.
• Doing what you enjoy.
• Learning new things.

Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to keep yourself and your central nervous system healthy.