Specific roles of CNS parts

• Brain: An intricate network of cells organised into identifiable regions
• Spinal cord: A long thin bundle of nerve fibres extending from base of brain to lower back
• The purpose of the brain is to process information received from the body’s internal and external environments
• The brain's have specialised roles, however most also have integrating and overlapping roles
• Many functions of the brain involve the activation of neural pathways that link different structures
• The spinal cord receives information from the body (via Peripheral nervous system) and carries them to the brain for processing
• The spinal cord receives motor information from the brain and carries it to the relevant parts of the body (via Peripheral nervous system) to control muscles, glands and internal organs.
• The spinal reflex is an unconscious and automatic response to certain stimuli initiated within the spinal cord without input from the brain.