central nervous system

noun

: the part of the nervous system which in vertebrates consists of the brain and spinal cord, to which sensory impulses are transmitted and from which motor impulses pass out, and which coordinates the activity of the entire nervous system compare peripheral nervous system

Examples of central nervous system in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system in which the body’s immune system attacks itself by mistake. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025

Less commonly, the infection can spread beyond the lungs to other parts of the body, including bones, joints, skin and the central nervous system. —Matthew Binnicker, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

The disease mostly impacts the central nervous system and causes severe brain disease and death if medical care is not received before the onset of symptoms, according to the National Park Service. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025

But unlike newer allergy medications, Benadryl also crosses the blood-brain barrier and enters the central nervous system. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for central nervous system

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• subsystem

Kids Definition

central nervous system

noun

: the part of the nervous system that in vertebrates consists of the brain and spinal cord

Medical Definition

central nervous system

noun

: the part of the nervous system which in vertebrates consists of the brain and spinal cord, to which sensory impulses are transmitted and from which motor impulses pass out, and which supervises and coordinates the activity of the entire nervous system compare autonomic nervous system, peripheral nervous system