Which statement about the central nervous system is true?

• A. It consists of brain and spinal cord.
• B. It consists of brain and meninges.
• C. It consists of cerebrum and meninges.
• D. It consists of cerebellum and brain.

Answer: (A)

The central idea is that the central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, which act as the main command centers for processing information and coordinating the body's activities. The brain interprets sensory input, thoughts, memories, and voluntary actions, while the spinal cord transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body and coordinates many reflexes. Meninges are protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, not neural tissue themselves, so a statement that centers on meninges alone wouldn’t describe the CNS components. Naming only the cerebrum omits other essential brain structures, and pairing cerebellum with the brain misses the spinal cord entirely. Therefore, the statement that the CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord is the true description.