The nervous system can be separated into the central and peripheral divisions. The central nervous system houses the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system contains all offshoots of the spinal cord.

The brain contains several structure and serves as the point of origin for the twelve cranial nerves. The globus pallidus is a subcortical structure in the brain. The olfactory (CNI) and optic nerves (CNII) are located exclusively within the brain, never actually deviating into the periphery. These are the only cranial nerves considered to be part of the central nervous system. The meninges are the layers of connective tissue that surround the spinal cord and brain, creating the blood-brain barrier. The meninges include the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater and are considered part of the central nervous system.

The oculomotor nerve is the third cranial nerve (CNIII), and is considered part of the peripheral nervous system.

The structure that connects the brain is called the corpus callosum. The medulla and cerebellum are part of the midbrain and hindbrain respectively. The infundibulum is the stalk of the pituitary gland.

The amygdala is the center of emotions in the brain. The hippocampus is an area of learning and memory. The cerebellum is related to coordination of muscle activity. The medulla is for homeostasis of vital body functions.

The occipital lobe is devoted to vision. It is located on the posterior aspect of the brain. Compared to the other three primary lobes it has very few jobs. Similar to temporal lobe which makes sense of auditory stimuli (amongst other things) and the parietal lobe which processes touch sensations, temperature etc., the occipital lobe allows us to process what we see. The cerebellum is not a primary lobe of the brain, and it functions in coordinating motor movements such as walking and playing the guitar.

The falx cerebelli is a dural fold that separates the two cerebellar hemispheres. The tentorium cerebelli is the dural fold that separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum. A ventricle is a fluid filled cavity within the cerebrum through which cerebrospinal fluid circulates. The pia mater is the deepest, thin meningeal layer that covers the surface of the brain.

The medulla (oblongata) is the lowest part of the brainstem. It controls many autonomic functions such as regulation of heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure. The pyramids are the two protruding columns found on the front of the medulla that contain motor nerve fibers. The olives are the round bulges found on the front and side of the medulla that relay signals to the cerebellum. The midbrain is the highest part of the brainstem.

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for the higher levels of thinking. The gyri are the folds of the brain (cerebrum) and the sulci are the grooves between the gyri. The cerebellum is the little brain and is responsible for balance and coordination.

The diencephalon is the region of the brain between the cerebrum and the brain stem; it contains the epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus, ventral thalamus, and the third ventricle. The corpus callosum is the structure that connects right and left cerebral hemispheres. The pituitary gland is the small structure in the brain that controls the endocrine system. A ventricle is a fluid filled cavity within the brain.

The nervous system consists of the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS can be thought of as the body's master control unit, it consist of the spinal cord, brainstem, and brain. The PNS is the body's link to the outside world, and consists of the autonomic nervous system (which branches into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system) and the somatic nervous system. 

The occipital lobe is the main area for interpreting visual stimuli. Wernicke's area is responsible for speech perception. The parietal lobe processes the sensations of touch, pressure, and temperature amongst other things. The temporal lobe processes sound mainly. Wernicke's area is located here. The olfactory lobe is involved in processing the sense of smell.