central nervous system

American  

noun

1. the part of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord.

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central nervous system British  

noun

1.  CNS.  the mass of nerve tissue that controls and coordinates the activities of an animal. In vertebrates it consists of the brain and spinal cord Compare autonomic nervous system

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central nervous system Scientific  

1. The part of the nervous system in vertebrate animals that consists of the brain and spinal cord.

2. Compare peripheral nervous system

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central nervous system Cultural  

1. The brain and spinal cord. (See nervous system).

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Etymology

Origin of central nervous system

First recorded in 1890–95

Compare meaning

How does central-nervous-system compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• central nervous system vs. peripheral nervous system

Example Sentences

The symptoms result from damage affecting the cerebellum and motor pathways within the central nervous system.

From Science Daily • Jun. 13, 2026

Nearly 7,000 people in Wales live with MS, which affects the central nervous system and can cause symptoms including blurred vision and mobility problems.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Scientists also identified similarities between feline and human cancers affecting the blood, bones, lungs, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and central nervous system.

From Science Daily • May 24, 2026

Following the rise of commercial web browsers in the 1990s, the internet erased the constraints of geography and became the central nervous system of the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Eastern equine encephalitis, caused by the prick of a mosquito, attacks the brain and central nervous system.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson