Graphic by Travis

The brain and spinal cord are connected. There are two kinds of cells in the brain:  neurons and glial cells. These cells help the brain control the rest of the body. There are more glial cells than there are neurons.

Neurons don't have the same parts as most other cells. A neuron has dendrites, a cell body, an axon, and a nucleus. Neurons carry nerve impulses and tell the different parts of the body what to do. If a neuron is damaged, it can't heal itself like most other cells can.

Though there are more glial cells in the brain, they don't control the nervous system. Instead, glial cells help keep the neurons alive. They make food for the neurons and help get rid of dead neurons so that the others keep working like they should.

Think about it:  Have you ever tried to call someone on the telephone but didn't get an answer? What if a brain cell tries to communicate with another part of the body but doesn't get an answer? Can the body do what it's supposed to do without the brain cells helping it?