Chapter 10-The Nervous System

Neural Anatomy
The nervous system is neural tissue, blood, and connective tissue. Neural tissue has two cell types: neurons (nerve cells) and neuroglial cells. Neurons are specialized cells that react to their surroundings (both physical and chemical changes).

Neural Anatomy
Nerve cells have a body: main part with nucleus, dendrites: small processes off of the body which receive information, and the axon: nerve fiber (telephone wire) that carries information away from the cell in the form of electric signals called nerve impulses.

Neural Anatomy
Synapse: small space between the neuron and the cell(s) with which it communicates. Neurotransmitters: chemical messengers.

Neural Anatomy
The nervous system can be divided into two groups. Central nervous system (CNS): brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nervous system (PNS): cranial and spinal nerves that connect the CNS to other body parts. Together the CNS and the PNS provide 3 functions: sensory, integrative, and motor functions.

Neural Anatomy
There are sensory receptors at the ends of peripheral nerves. They monitor both internal and external conditions such as temperature, light & sound, and oxygen concentrations. Sensory receptors concerts their information into nerve impulses that they send to the CNS. Once at the CNS, these impulses create sensations. Then, conscious or subconscious decisions are made and sent by nerves from the CNS to effectors.

Neural Anatomy
Effectors are outside the nervous system. They are things such as muscles, or glands that secrete when stimulated by the CNS. The motor portion of the PNS can be divided into two nervous systems. Somatic nervous system: conscious activities such as skeletal muscle contraction. Autonomic nervous system: controls subconscious actions of the vicera (heart, glands, etc.)

Migraine Headaches
Although they are called headaches, migraines are responses to changes in the diameters of blood vessels in the face, head, and neck. The blood vessels first constrict and then dilate which causes head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light. Some migraines are genetic and some are also caused by environmental triggers such as sudden bright light, certain foods, lack of sleep, stress, high altitude, excess alcohol or caffeine.

Migraine Headaches
Two major types of migraines: classic and common. Classic migraines: 10-15% experience these. They last 4-6 hours and begin with sight loss called aura. Common migraines: usually lack an aura and last 3-4 days! Third, but rare type: familial hemiplegic migrain (genetic). Paralyzes one side of the body for a few hours to a few days and may cause loss of consciousness.

Migraine Headaches
Millions are affected, and of those 70% are women. Hormones may influence these migraines and some suffer from menstrual migraines every month. Treatments: triptans (class of drug) can halt migraines but must be taken at the beginning. They constrict blood vessels. Sometimes ibuprofen is effective. Others have been developed to prevent the frequency of migraines (used on daily basis), such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and hypertension drugs.

Neural Anatomy
The axons of the PNS are surrounded by Schwann cells. They are sheets of lipid that tightly wind around the axons (like a bandage around a finger). The sheets of lipid are myelin. The gaps between each myelin sheath of the Schwann cells are called Nodes of Ranvier.

Neural Anatomy
Myelinated axons appear white, and can also appear in the CNS. These myelinated axons in the brain is what makes up white matter. Unmyelinated axons in the brain is called gray matter. In the CNS, it is the neuroglial cell, the oligodendrite, that produces the myelin.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Disorder of the CNS that affects 2.5 million people worldwide. The myelin sheaths become inflamed and destroyed by an immune response, leaving scars that block the neurons from transmitting messages. So, the muscles that no longer receive info from the motor neurons stop contracting and atrophy.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)-Symptoms

The first symptoms are usually blurred vision and numb limbs. Symptoms will vary based on which neurons are affected. Some become permanently paralyzed. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and magnetic resonance (MR) scans. 70% of MS patients notice symptoms between 20-40 years of age. Occurs more in women and Caucasians.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Certain infections such as viral infections may stimulate T cells (white blood cells) that may cross the blood-brain barrier. The T cells may then attack the myelin producing cells. Drugs can manage MS, but there is no cure. There are both short-term and long-term remedies to combat the acute attacks as well as to slow the progression of the disease.