What is the nervous system and what does it do?

The nervous system processes information throughout the body by carrying signals between the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS consists of nerveswhich are connected to the CNS and reach the rest of the body.

The brain has several key parts: the medulla oblongata, the cerebellum, the cerebrum, the hypothalamus and the hippocampus.

Cerebrum

The cerebrum is the uppermost part of the brain that contains many different lobes that control various voluntary functions such as speech, movement and thought.