Final answer:
The term 'ganglion' refers to clusters of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system, not the central nervous system. These are divided into sensory ganglia, like the dorsal root ganglia, and autonomic ganglia which control organ functions. The CNS clusters are called nuclei, with 'basal ganglia' being a historical exception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Ganglia are clusters of nerve cell bodies located in the central nervous system" is false. In the field of anatomy and physiology, the term ganglion (plural: ganglia) is used specifically for clusters of nerve cell bodies found in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
A ganglion acts as a sort of relay point, and these can be categorized mainly as either sensory ganglia or autonomic ganglia. Sensory ganglia house the cell bodies of sensory neurons, such as the dorsal root ganglia associated with spinal nerves. Autonomic ganglia include the sympathetic chain ganglia and prevertebral ganglia, and they play a role in the autonomic nervous system by controlling various organ functions through the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Conversely, a similar cluster of neuron cell bodies found within the central nervous system (CNS) is called a nucleus, not a ganglion. It's worth noting that the historical term "basal ganglia" is actually an exception, referring to a group of nuclei within the CNS, now often termed "basal nuclei" to avoid confusion. Thus, understanding the distinction between CNS and PNS structures is essential. As for the CNS, it consists of the brain and spinal cord, whereas the PNS includes all neural elements outside of these structures.