The nervous system controls all activities of the body and is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It allows the body to react to stimuli in the environment through automatic responses not requiring thought, such as blinking when something comes near the eye. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, with the brain having three main parts - the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem - that control functions like thinking, memory, movement, balance, and posture.