What Organs Are Part of the Nervous System?
The nervous system is your body’s communication and control center. It helps you think, move, feel, and react to the world around you. But did you know the nervous system is made up of organs that each have a special role? These organs work together to keep your body running smoothly.
Let’s dive into the key organs of the nervous system, what they do, and why they’re so important to everyday life.
🔍Dive Deeper
- What Is the Nervous System?
- 🧠The Brain: Command Center
- 🧵 The Spinal Cord: Information Highway
- 📡 Nerves: Body-Wide Messengers
- 🛡️ Supporting Structures and Tissues
- đź“Š Nervous System Facts
- 🎯 Final Thoughts
- đź“š References
What Is the Nervous System?
The nervous system is made up of two main parts:
- Central Nervous System (CNS) – includes the brain and spinal cord
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) – includes nerves that spread throughout the body
Together, these parts allow your brain to communicate with the rest of your body almost instantly. You can move, feel pain, solve problems, and even keep your heart beating—all thanks to the organs in this system.
🧠The Brain: Command Center
The brain is the most important organ in the nervous system. It sits safely inside the skull and controls everything you do—from blinking to dreaming.
| Part of Brain | Function |
|---|---|
| Cerebrum | Thinking, memory, senses, movement |
| Cerebellum | Balance, coordination |
| Brainstem | Breathing, heartbeat, digestion |
🧠The human brain contains about 86 billion neurons that pass signals constantly [1].
The brain processes information and sends instructions to the rest of the body through the spinal cord and nerves.
🧵 The Spinal Cord: Information Highway
The spinal cord is a long tube made of nerves and tissues. It runs down your back inside the spine and connects the brain to the rest of the body.
What the spinal cord does:
- Sends messages from the brain to muscles
- Carries sensory signals from the body to the brain
- Controls reflexes like pulling away from something hot
| Location | Protected By | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the spine | Vertebrae (bones) | About 18 inches (45 cm) in adults |
📡 Nerves: Body-Wide Messengers
Nerves are like electrical wires that run through your entire body. They belong to the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and connect to every organ, limb, and skin surface.
There are three types of nerves:
| Type | Function |
|---|---|
| Sensory Nerves | Carry messages from the body to the brain |
| Motor Nerves | Send instructions from the brain to muscles |
| Mixed Nerves | Carry both sensory and motor information |
⚡ Some nerve signals travel at up to 250 miles per hour [2]!
Nerves allow you to feel textures, move your arms, hear sounds, and much more.
🛡️ Supporting Structures and Tissues
Besides the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, the nervous system has supporting parts that help protect and nourish these organs.
Key supporting structures:
- Meninges – three layers of protective tissue around the brain and spinal cord
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) – a clear liquid that cushions the brain and spine
- Glial cells – helper cells that support and protect neurons
These parts don’t send messages, but without them, the system couldn’t function properly.
đź“Š Nervous System Facts
🧠The nervous system uses about 20% of your body’s energy, even when resting [3].
🧬 Neurons can be over 3 feet long, especially those in the legs.
⚡ There are about 43 pairs of nerves in the human body: 12 from the brain (cranial nerves) and 31 from the spinal cord (spinal nerves) [4].
🧠Your brain can send a signal to your hand in under a second!
🎯 Final Thoughts
What organs are part of the nervous system? The organs of the nervous system—brain, spinal cord, and nerves—are the superheroes of your body. They let you sense the world, move your body, and stay alive without you even thinking about it.
Understanding how these parts work together can help you see just how amazing your body truly is. Whether you’re running, learning, or dreaming, your nervous system is always busy behind the scenes.
đź“š References
- Azevedo, F.A.C. et al. (2009). “Equal numbers of neuronal and nonneuronal cells make the human brain an isometrically scaled-up primate brain.” Journal of Comparative Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.21974
- Harvard Health Publishing. “How Fast Do Nerve Signals Travel?” https://www.health.harvard.edu
- KidsHealth. “Nervous System.” Nemours. https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/brain.html
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “Brain Basics.” https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/patient-caregiver-education/brain-basics
đź“ŚLearn More About the Nervous System
- What Organs Are Part of the Nervous System?
- What Are the Functions of the Brain?
- What Are the Parts of the Brain?
- Why Is the Brain So Wrinkly?
- What Are Neurons and How Do They Work?