Multiple Sclerosis
Neurons are the basic structural unit of the nervous system. The nervous system is in charge of all body functions. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system, while the peripheral nervous system includes nerves and connects the central nervous system to the sensory organs. Some of the neurons within the central nervous system are surrounded by a myelin sheath. Myelin insulates the axon and allows electrical impulses to travel faster throughout the body. Oligodendrocytes produce myelin in the central nervous system and can wrap myelin around several axons at a time. Some Schwann cells produce myelin in the peripheral nervous system. Unlike oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells can only wrap around one axon at a time.
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Multiple Sclerosis is an important disease to understand because it is an autoimmune disease.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke describes multiple sclerosis as “an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, multiple sclerosis (MS) can range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating, as communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted” (NINDS 2015). An autoimmune disease is one where the body attacks itself. With multiple sclerosis, the body begins to attack the myelin sheaths of the neurons; causing demyelination. Demyelination is the loss of the myelin sheaths along the axons. When demyelination occurs, the body loses the ability to communicate with itself. This is problematic because neurons do not regenerate and the cause of multiple sclerosis is
unknown. While the cause of the disease is unknown, several groups of people tend to develop the disease more frequently. The disease usually develops between age 20 and 50, and is more common in women than men. Pugliatti explains, “The total estimated prevalence rate of MS for the past three decades is 83 per 100 000 with higher rates in northern countries and a female: male ratio around 2.0. Prevalence rates are higher for women for all countries considered. The highest prevalence rates have been estimated for the age group 35–64 years for both sexes and for all countries” (Pugliatti 2006). Caucasians who live in temperate climates such as the northern United States, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada develop the disease more often than people of other races and climates; some say this is due to the exposure to the sun and the effects of Vitamin D. This could be due to the levels of reporting as well as advancements in medicine. Poor countries throughout the world are less likely to report cases of multiple sclerosis or study the population and the link to multiple sclerosis. According to Orton, “The environmental effect causing the shift in sex ratio could be attributed to changes in lifestyle factors of women. These include higher numbers and changing roles of women in the workforce, outdoor activity, dietary habits, and alterations in menarche and in the timing of childbearing years, among others” (Orton 2006). Because the development of multiple sclerosis is unknown, many hypothesize that its onset is due to environmental factors. With a larger amount of women affected by this disease, many speculate that it is due to their changing roles in society. Women play more roles in the family than they previously did. Women are not only child bearers but maintain full time jobs where, depending on the job, could be exposed to environmental factors that increases multiple sclerosis. Women tend to experience a lot of stress due to the multiple roles that they play in the family. High stress levels lead to many health problems and may contribute to the onset of diseases like multiple sclerosis. While there is no cure for this disease, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “There is as yet no cure for MS. Many patients do well with no therapy at all, especially since many medications have serious side effects and some carry significant risks” (NINDS 2015). While many drugs have serious side effects, steroids may help lessen the symptoms of attacks. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains, “While steroids do not affect the course of MS over time, they can reduce the duration and severity of attacks in some patients” (NINDS 2015).
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the myelination of the central nervous system, leading to numerous issues regarding muscle strength, coordination, balance, sensation, vision, and even some cognitive defects. Unfortunately, the etiology of MS is not known, however, it is generally thought of and accepted as being an autoimmune disorder inside of the central nervous system (Rietberg, et al. 2004). According to a study (Noonan, et al. 2010) on the prevalence of MS, the disease affects more than 1 million people across the world, and approximately 85% of those that are affected will suffer from unpredictably occurring sessions of exacerbations and remissions. The report (Noonan, et al. 2010) found that the prevalence of MS was much higher in women than in men, and that it was also higher in non-Hispanic whites than in other racial or ethnic groups throughout the 3 regions of the United States that were studied.
Shwaan cells- form myelin sheath outside of the central nervous system and therefore exists in the peripheral nervous system will repair damaged axons.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is generally thought to be an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheaths, or oligodendrocytes that cover nerve axons in the central nervous system (PubMed Health 2013). This immune response causes inflammation, which triggers immune cells to destroy axons “along any area of the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord” (PubMed Health 2013). When the myelin sheath “is damaged, nerve signals slow down or stop” thus hindering the propagation of action potentials and limiting function (PubMed Health 2013).
According to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The central nervous system (CNS) comprises of the brain and the spinal cord. CNS is coated and protected by myelin sheath that is made of fatty tissues (Slomski, 2005). The inflammation and damage of the myelin sheath causing it to form a scar (sclerosis). This results in a number of physical and mental symptoms, including weakness, loss of coordination, and loss of speech and vision. The way the disease affect people is always different; some people experience only a single attack and recover quickly, while others condition degenerate over time (Wexler, 2013). Hence, the diagnosis of MS is mostly done by eliminating the symptoms of other diseases. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects both men and women, but generally, it is more common in women more than men. The disease is most usually diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, however, it can occur at any age. Someone with a family history of the disease is more likely to suffer from it. Although MS is not
The human nervous system is divided into two parts, the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system, CNS, is just the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system, PNS, includes the nerves and neurons that extend outwards from the CNS, to transmit information to your limbs and organs, for example. Communication between your cells is extremely important, neurons are the messengers that relay information to and from your brain. Nerve cells generate electrical signals to transmit information.
Primarily, the term MS refers to a chronic disorder that attacks the central nervous system (CNS). It is most common in temperate continents such as Europe and Australia with Asiatic and African continents having a lower risk of the disease (Wiley Online Library, 2013). A search organised by the Multiple Sclerosis Society (2013) has estimated that there are 127,000 people living with MS in the United Kingdom. Further research by Chipps, Clanin, and Campbell (1992, pp. 158-167) shows that MS disorder more likely affects women than men with its symptoms occurring between the ages of 20 and 40 in most cases and is quite uncommon in childhood and old age. The nerve cells known as neurons in the brain constantly transmit and receive signals. They invoke emotions, activities and cognition that constitute the day to day experiences of humans. Under normal circumstances, these signals travel on a protected insulation path known as the myelin sheath. This insulation is vital as it enables signals to reach their target. In Multiple Sclerosis, the myelin sheath gets disintegrated causing the nerve fibre to be damaged leading to a disruption in the abili...
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease. The Central Nervous System (CNS) is attacked by the immune system; creating lesions that interrupt the correct signaling of nerves, spinal cord, and brain (Frankel, & James, 2011). Inhibiting development of this disease is crucial for maintaining quality of life and fatigue for individuals with MS. There has been vast amount of research on the effect of various exercise training programs, and their benefits for MS (Motl, & Gosney, 2008, Krupp, 2003, Chen, Fan, Hu, Yang, & Li, 2013). Balance, aerobic, and strength training have been the main focus of most researchers; causing an interest in what training mode is most effective for improving quality of life and lower fatigue. It is critical to examine and contrast the effectiveness of a variety of exercise programs, because if training is completed effectively it can drastically improve quality of life and fatigue for individuals with MS.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, directed against the myelin sheath. Leading to demyelination and axonal loss. It’s characterized by spread “plaques” of demielinization typically found in typically found on MRI in the periventricular region, corpus callosum, centrum semiovale and, to a lesser extent, deep white – structures and basal ganglia.(Olek, 2005)
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It is understood as an autoimmune disease, a condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues. In Multiple Sclerosis, the patient’s own cells & antibodies attack the fatty myelin sheath that protects and insulates nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord, the two components of the CNS. This ultimately causes damage to the nerve cells and without the insulation the myelin sheath provides, nerve communication is disrupted. Hence, Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by symptoms that reflect central nervous system involvement (Luzzio, 2014).
It is also estimated that approximately two and half million people are living with the disease... The name multiple sclerosis refers to the scars that are present in the brain and spinal cord is seen on an MRI. An autoimmune disorder is where a person’s immune system mistakes its own white blood cells as invaders and begins to attack itself damaging healthy body tissue. In these types of disorders, the immune system cannot tell the difference between healthy cells and antigens, which are foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. Because of the damage, it does to the nerve cells; nerve signals can either slow down or stop completely. Inflammation, or the body’s reaction to infection, is what causes this nerve damage to happen. Multiple sclerosis is most commonly seen in the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord and often leads to physical and cognitive
The myelin sheath is a fatty substance that surrounds the axons of the nerves and provides protection. It allows messages to be sent rapidly and accurately to the axons from long distances (Serono, 2010). The axons are the part of the nervous system that allows electrical transmission of signals throughout the brain and spinal cord. Without these electrical transmissions, the body would not be able to function properly (Serono, 2010).
When a message comes to the brain from body parts such as the hand, the brain dictates the body on how to respond such as instructing muscles in the hand to pull away from a hot stove. The nerves in one’s skin send a message of pain to the brain. In response, the brain sends a message back dictating the muscles in one’s hand to pull away from the source of pain. Sensory neurons are nerve cells that carry signals from outside of the body to the central nervous system. Neurons form nerve fibers that transmit impulses throughout the body. Neurons consists of three basic parts: the cell body, axon, and dendrites. The axon carries the nerve impulse along the cell. Sensory and motor neurons are insulated by a layer of myelin sheath, the myelin helps
The nervous system is a network of cells that take messages from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body. The nervous system is made up of the Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System. The Central Nervous System has two main parts; the brain and the spinal cord. While the Peripheral Nervous System has the Somatic and the Autonomic Nervous systems included with in it.
Nervous system is one of the major organ systems that is responsible for the coordination of biological activities inside the body through cells called neurons. It is composed of the brain and spinal cord which are surrounded by protective layers of bone and membrane tissues called meninges. There are two major divisions in the nervous system; first one is the central nervous system (CNS) and the other being the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and retina while the PNS includes the sensory neurons, ganglia, and connecting neurons. The nervous system applies control using nerves; almost as if sending a message by a telephone. The nervous system is fast due to its electrical nature. The nerve cells in this system are connected with each other in a complex manner where the neural pathways would be possible. Neural
The nervous system is composed of all nerve tissue in the body. This organ system forms a communication and coordination network between all parts of the body. It plays a major role in everyday activities such as breathing, walking even blinking. It is made up of nerve tissues to receive and transmit stimuli to nervous centers and initiate response. Neurons are nerve cells that transmit signals from one location of the body to another. With damage to the nervous system the body would not be able to function properly. The body has to be well taken care of in order to insure proper regulation. The two anatomical divisions that work hand in hand to help regulate the nervous system are the central and peripheral nervous system. According to the Campbell’s seventh edition biology book the nervous system is the most intricately organized data processing system on earth. It is a complex collection of nerves and specialized cells.