Читать книгу Pathy's Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine - Группа авторов - Страница 53

The nervous system consists of the central nervous system (CNS), which comprises the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes both the somatic nervous system (nerves in the peripheral parts of the body) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is further divided into the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions. Major structures of the brain include the cerebrum, diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus), brainstem (midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata), and cerebellum.

The nervous system is responsible for regulating body movements, motor and sensory functions, voluntary behaviours, learning, memory, thought, verbal and visual functions, and complex cognitive activities such as reasoning. There is wide variation among individuals in the changes that occur in the brain with age and their impacts on function.