Читать книгу The Mind-Body Cure - Bal Pawa - Страница 33

The central nervous system (CNS) is the control center for the whole body and comprises the brain and spinal cord (Figure 2.1). The nerves are bundles of fibers and receptors that sense changes within our body (for example, a feeling of hunger) and our external environment (for example, the sound of screeching tires). The nerves send these messages to the CNS to be interpreted. Nerves outside our brain and spinal cord make up the peripheral nervous system, a complex information highway that comprises the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

The central nervous system, which in humans includes the brain and spinal cord, coordinates the body's activities and stores memories and emotions through 3 levels of increasingly specific nerve systems. This central system first connects with the peripheral nervous system, which includes nerves from the brain and spine that relay messages from all parts of the body to the nervous system and back. These peripheral nerves connect with the somatic and autonomic nervous systems, which send and receive messages about the body's voluntary and involuntary movements respectively. Finally, the autonomic nerves coordinate messages to and from the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which activate our calming rest-and-digest or defensive fight-or-flight responses.

Figure 2.1. The central nervous system and its branches.