nervous system

American  

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

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

• nervous systems
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nervous systems
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nervous system

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nervous system

They found that GDF15 initiates signaling from the brain through the nervous system, ultimately causing the release of glucocorticoids.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

But equally, a delayed response or a friend failing to follow through on plans can trigger subtle stress responses in the nervous system.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Parkinson’s disease, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a nervous system movement disorder that worsens with time and cannot be cured.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

Until now, however, scientists did not understand how the nervous system produces this age-dependent progression from one task to another.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026

The deciduous trees stood up in skeleton, like maps of the veins or of the nervous system.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White