Figure 2.3 | The Nervous System and Its Major Subdivisions | The nervous system first divides into the central nervous system (the spinal cord and brain) and the peripheral nervous system (the remainder of the nervous system throughout the body). The peripheral nervous system has two parts—the somatic (or skeletal) nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system also has two parts—the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system.