Video - Nervous system anatomy and physiology

The human nervous system functions as the control center for everything our body does. It controls voluntary and involuntary activities, including movements, breathing, thinking, digestion, etc. The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord; and the peripheral nervous system, which includes all the nerves that connect the central nervous system to the muscles and organs.

The peripheral nervous system is further divided into the somatic nervous system, which controls our skeletal muscles; and the autonomic nervous system, which is further subdivided into the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems, which control smooth muscles and glands.