Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The spinal cord is a long bundle of nervous tissue that extends from the base of your brain down your back. It carries messages between your brain and body.
This includes both the brain and spinal cord. It's like government headquarters overseeing all transportation systems in our analogy.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): This consists of all nerves outside CNS; it sends information back and forth from CNS to rest of body - think local roads connecting with our main highway (spinal cord).
Reflex Arcs: These are automatic responses coordinated within spinal cord without input from brain - similar to automated toll booths on highways that allow traffic flow without manual intervention.