What two components make up the central nervous system?

The central nervous system (CNS) comprises two primary components: the brain and the spinal cord. The brain serves as the control center for processing information and coordinating responses, while the spinal cord acts as a major conduit for information traveling between the brain and the rest of the body. Together, they are responsible for integrating sensory data, generating motor commands, and overseeing a multitude of bodily functions.

Other options describe parts of the nervous system but do not represent the CNS. For example, nerves and ganglia are components of the peripheral nervous system, which operates outside the central nervous system to relay messages to and from limbs and organs. The cerebellum and cortex represent specific parts of the brain, while the spinal cord and peripheral nerves include structures that do not collectively define the CNS. Therefore, the brain and spinal cord as the two components encapsulate the entirety of the central nervous system effectively.