Learn more about the central and peripheral nervous systems.

By Publisher: AMEDD Center and School | Factsheet

This free online anatomy course will be of great interest to healthcare professionals who would like to obtain a greater knowledge and understanding of the human nervous system, and to anyone who would like to know more about the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

The human nervous system is made up of two main parts - the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves that extend to all the other organs in the body. The autonomic nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system and comprises the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

In an Introduction To The Human Nervous System you will learn about the structure and function of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system; the structure and function of the brain and spinal cord, and how these control and coordinate the sensory inputs and movements of the body.

The course also examines the peripheral nervous system and, in particular, the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system. Nerve impulses and synaptic transmission are also explained in detail.