The brain and spinal cord are part of which division of the nervous system?

The brain and spinal cord are components of the central nervous system. This division serves as the main control center for processing and transmitting information throughout the body. The central nervous system is responsible for integrating sensory information and coordinating motor functions, as well as higher cognitive processes such as thinking, memory, and emotion.

In contrast, the peripheral nervous system includes all the nerves outside the central nervous system, facilitating communication between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. The autonomic nervous system is a subset of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary bodily functions, such as heartbeat and digestion, while the somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements by transmitting sensory and motor signals to and from the central nervous system. Therefore, the central nervous system's unique role in housing the primary structures that oversee these critical processes emphasizes its distinction from the other nervous system divisions.