Question

Identify and explain how the central nervous system is supported and protected.

Answer 1

The central nervous system is the spinal cord and brain, essentially.  It is supported and protected by the spine and the cranium, with extra cushioning and protection provided by the cerebro-spinal fluid.

Answer 2

Answer:

The Central Nervous System, or CNS, is literally the hardware and software that leads our entire human body. Without it, we would simply not be alive. Just like a control tower, but with the power to actually control, and not just guide, the CNS is vital and central to all the functions carried out by the body. It is also central for human beings to be able to interact with, understand, and react, to the environment that surrounds them. So the CNS does not just control our bodily functions, but also, the entire cognitive process that makes us who, and what, we are as people.

But our CNS is not just its two main components: the brain and the spinal cord. In fact, these two organs are highly dependent not just on one another, but also on other organs, systems and tissues, to be able to function properly. In fact, without these other systems, organs and tissues, the brain and spinal cord would be absolutely useless. As such, our CNS depends on nerves, both central and peripheral, that are essentially parts of the main cellular unit of the CNS, the neuron. But these neurons are extremely vulnerable and easy to damage, and therefore, they need to be protected. As such, the CNS in its entirety is protected by bone, muscle, articulations, adipose tissue, epithelial coverings, vasculature and fluid, as well as the flesh that covers our bodies.

So from the outside in, we first have skin, which essentially surrounds our entire bodies. Since the CNS is basically harbored on our spines at our backs, and on the back of our skulls, these are protected by skin. Then we have adipose tissue, which helps overall to maintain temperature and also to protect our bodies from environmental impact, as well as maintain our energy going. Then we have our blood vessels. Vasculature is central to the CNS, as it will provide it with the most needed glucose, the preferred source of energy for the CNS. It will also provide oxygen and take away waste. Then we have muscles, especially in the back, that will permit movement, while maintaining enough stability so that our spinal cord is not damaged. Then we have the bone structure and joints in the spinal column and the skull, which become serious plate protection against damage. They also become the tunnels through which our CNS traverses. Finally we have the meningeal coverings, a series of tissue linings that cover and protect most of the spinal cord and the brain, produce the CFS (cerebrospinal fluid which is the insulator and trauma absorption mechanism, as well as the one that maintains these organs of the CNS fed, since blood does not contact the CNS directly).

We could go even deeper, and see that what we mentioned above are only the superficial support system for the CNS. There are other cellular support systems as well, but those are even more complex.