nervous system

American  

[nur-vuhs sis-tuhm] / ˈnɜr vəs ˌsɪs təm /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

1. the system of nerves and nerve centers in an animal or human, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and ganglia.

2. a particular part of this system.

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nervous system British  

noun

1. the sensory and control apparatus of all multicellular animals above the level of sponges, consisting of a network of nerve cells See neurone See also central nervous system

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nervous system Scientific  

/ nûr′vəs /

1. The system of neurons and tissues that regulates the actions and responses of vertebrates and many invertebrates. The nervous system of vertebrates is a complex information-processing system that consists mainly of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral and autonomic nerves. It receives chemical information from hormones in the circulating blood and can also regulate secretions of the endocrine system by the action of neurohormones. The nervous systems of invertebrates vary from a simple network of nerves to a complex nerve network under the control of a primitive brain.

2. See also autonomic nervous system central nervous system peripheral nervous system

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nervous system Cultural  

1. The system in the body that controls internal functions of the body and receives, interprets, and responds to stimuli. The nervous system is made up of the brain, the spinal cord, the nerves, and the sense organs, such as the eye and ear.

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Etymology

Origin of nervous system

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

In work published online in ACS Chemical Neuroscience on July 03, 2025, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan created vitamin K analogues designed to be more active in the nervous system.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

Diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's slowly damage the brain by destroying neurons, the cells that carry messages through the nervous system.

From Science Daily • May 27, 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

Music has a direct impact on the nervous system.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

A town has a nervous system and a head and shoulders and feet.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck