Describe in a short answer the functions of the two major components of the central nervous system, and explain how spinal reflexes work.
The two major components of the central nervous system are the brain and spinal cord.
The brain is one of the largest and most complex organs of our body. It controls several functions like thoughts, memory, sensation, speech, emotion, etc. It is responsible for integrating sensory information and coordinating body functions. Different regions of the brain perform different functions like medulla oblongata performing involuntary functions like vomiting, breathing, blood pressure, etc. Pons relays information between higher regions of the brain and cerebellum, which helps in coordinating movements. Hypothalamus maintains the body's homeostasis by controlling its internal environment.
The spinal cord is a way of transmitting information from the brain to the different parts of the body. It relays sensory, motor, and autonomic messages from the brain to the rest of the body. It also controls musculoskeletal reflexes without input from the brain.
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