Definition

1. Noun:
   • The sensory and control apparatus consisting of a network of nerve cells: The nervous system is the complex, integrated network of specialized cells (neurons) that coordinates the body's actions and sensory information by transmitting signals to and from different parts of the body.

Usage

• The term "nervous system" is a singular, countable noun. It is typically used with the definite article "the" when referring to the system in a general or specific biological context.
• It functions as the subject or object in a sentence, often described by its components (central, peripheral) or its state (healthy, damaged).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The human nervous system is incredibly complex.
  • Damage to the peripheral nervous system can cause numbness.
  • The doctor explained how the nervous system controls reflex actions.

Advanced Usage

• "autonomic nervous system": The part of the nervous system responsible for control of involuntary bodily functions.
  • The autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate and digestion.
• "central nervous system (CNS)": The part comprising the brain and spinal cord.
  • The central nervous system is protected by bone and meninges.

Variants and Related Words

• Neural (adj): Relating to a nerve or the nervous system.
  • Neural pathways facilitate communication in the brain.
• Neurology (n): The branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system.
• Neuron (n): A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.

Synonyms

• Neural network: A term often used in both biology and computing to describe an interconnected system.
• Nerve net: A simpler, decentralized form found in some invertebrates.

Related Phrases

• Nervous system disorder: A medical condition affecting the nervous system.
  • Parkinson's disease is a nervous system disorder.
• To regulate the nervous system: To control or influence its activity.
  • Meditation can help regulate the nervous system.

Notes

• The term is a compound noun. Its primary meaning is biological. It is not typically used in idiomatic expressions separate from its scientific context.

Noun

1. the sensory and control apparatus consisting of a network of nerve cells