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- The nervous system is divided into two main parts.
- The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of the brain and spinal cord.
- The spinal cord contains a bundle of nerves that leaves the brain and runs down the length of the back.
- It controls some simple kinds of behaviors.
- The peripheral nervous system is made up of long axons and reaches throughout the body.
- There are two major divisions of the peripheral nervous system.
The somatic division specializes in the control of voluntary movements. The autonomic division is concerned with the heart, blood vessels, glands, lungs, and other organs that function involuntarily. In turn, the autonomic system divides into two parts. The sympathetic division acts to prepare the body in stressful emergency situations. The parasympathetic division acts to calm the body after the emergency situation is resolved.
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