The nervous system is composed of two major parts. The central nervous system is the first part that makes up the nervous system. This controls most functions of the body and mind, and consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is the center of our thoughts, but most importantly it interprets information from our sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. In addition, the spinal cord is the highway for communication between the body and the brain. If for some reason the spinal cord becomes injured, the exchange of information between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.
Figure One: https://www.simplypsychology.org/a-level-biological.html
Moreover, as seen in Figure One, the peripheral nervous system is the division of the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous system, and is also the body’s link to the outside world. The main role that the peripheral nervous system has to take on is to connect the central nervous system to the organs, limbs, and skin. These nerves extend from the central nervous system to the outermost areas of the body. Additionally, the peripheral nervous system allows the brain and spinal cord to receive and send information to other areas of the body, which allows one to react to stimuli in our environment.
Every individual has a nervous system, but not many think about what their life would be like if part of their nervous system became damaged. Since the central nervous system is the body’s master control unit, most neurons cannot repair or renew themselves, unlike other cells in the body if it becomes ruptured. This would result in serious mental and physical changes to one’s daily life, which is what transpired for someone in my immediate family. My Aunt had the unfortunate experience of damaging her spinal cord in a brutal car accident less than a year ago. The injury to the spinal cord occurred lower in her back, which caused paraplegia-paralysis of both of her legs. On top of the paraplegia-paralysis, my Aunt lost her ability to comprehend and speak to others the way she was able to prior to damaging her spinal cord, which is a component of the central nervous system. This occurred because the spinal cord is the pathway for messages sent by the brain to the body, and from the body to the brain. Therefore, when her spinal cord became damaged, it stopped her central nervous system from working properly, and impacted the way she is going to have to live for the rest of her life. Thus, the central nervous system does a lot for our bodies without us even realizing, so when part of it becomes damaged, our way of life will be altered in a negative way.
Works Cited
Conrad Stoppler, Melissa. “Central Nervous System (CNS) Parts and Function.” Emedicinehealth , 4 Sept. 2019, https://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_central_nervous_system/article_em.htm.
Folkenroth , Caroline. What Are the Differences Between a CNS & a PNS? https://sciencing.com/differences-between-cns-pns-8223236.html.