Insights on nervous system biology and anatomy

Abstract The mammalian nervous system is possibly the most fascinating product of evolution. It is inherently complex, but our knowledge on its intricacies has been increasing over decades. In this chapter an overview of the mammalian nervous system development from the neural plate and of the resulting anatomical organization, is provided. Functional aspects of each region will also be presented. Finally, a brief description of the main technical approaches used in neuroscience will be discussed.