What does the Central Nervous System consist of?

The Central Nervous System (CNS) is primarily composed of the brain and spinal cord. This combination serves as the main control center for the body, coordinating sensory information and motor control and serving as the site for higher cognitive functions such as thinking and memory. The brain processes and interprets incoming sensory information, while the spinal cord acts as the pathway for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body, facilitating reflexes and motor commands.

Other structures mentioned in the other choices, such as peripheral nerves, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brainstem, and medulla oblongata, are components of the broader nervous system or parts of the brain. However, they do not encompass the entirety of the Central Nervous System, which is specifically defined as including only the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, the defining elements of the CNS are accurately captured by identifying the brain and spinal cord as its primary constituents.