part_of part of part of in_anterior_side_of develops_from develops from develops from contributes to morphology of existence ends during immediate transformation of organ fully formed stage multicellular organism brain suprasegmental levels of nervous system The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate, and most invertebrate, animals. Some primitive animals such as jellyfish and starfish have a decentralized nervous system without a brain, while sponges lack any nervous system at all. In vertebrates, the brain is located in the head, protected by the skull and close to the primary sensory apparatus of vision, hearing, balance, taste, and smell[WP]. synganglion suprasegmental structures encephalon the brain nervous system central nervous system ectoderm-derived structure future brain