nervous system

[ nur-vuhs sis-tuhm ]

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.

nervous system

noun

1. See central nervous system, neurone
   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

nervous system

/ 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

nervous system

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 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of nervous system¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

While at Königsberg, he studied the nervous system, optics and acoustics, especially with regard to the physiology of the senses.

From Science News

Just a handful of toxins make up the potent substance, which attacks the nervous system of its victims.

From Popular-Science

Another piece is that the neurons involved in your sympathetic nervous system are inhibited directly by controlled breathing—so the act of focusing on your breath is actually calming your nerves, quite literally.

From Popular-Science

The only way to retool this human attribute would be for a surgeon from the far future with near-miraculous understanding of the nervous system to ablate portions of the brain.

From Nautilus

The miniature snippet of the human nervous system has been a long time in the making.

From Singularity Hub 

It drains your body of nutrients and vitamins, attacking the central nervous system and leaving you in a dehydrated, hazy state.

From The Daily Beast

He is caught stealing by his former employer, who poisons his nervous system with a mycotoxin.

From The Daily Beast

DDT, PCBs, and others have been shown to cause cancer, nervous system damage, and hormonal changes, according to Rochman.

From The Daily Beast

It activates your parasympathetic nervous system and tells your body to relax and recuperate.

From The Daily Beast

The key is learning different methods for controlling your nervous system through breath.

From The Daily Beast

She also observed that music had a great effect upon his nervous system.

From Project Gutenberg

The functions of the nervous system—sensation and voluntary motion—cannot be explained by any other theory.

From Project Gutenberg

Man, on the contrary, has an exceedingly plastic nervous system, which enables him to meet changing conditions.

From Project Gutenberg

In the course of their growth they cause pressure symptoms upon the nervous system, and this leads to death.

From Project Gutenberg

Physiology has demonstrated that the impression is transmitted from the finger-tip to the brain by means of the nervous system.

From Project Gutenberg