Nervous System

What is the nervous system?

The nervous system is a complex network made up of nerves and cells whose function is to carry or transmit information and messages from the brain and spinal cord to the various parts of the body.

The nervous system is formed by the Central nervous system and the Peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is formed by the brain and the spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system is composed of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems, formed by nerve fibers branching from the spinal cord and covering the entire body, including muscles and internal organs.

The Central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The cerebrum, which is divided into two hemispheres, from which are divided into lobes, is formed by the brainstem, the cerebrum, the cerebellum, the medulla oblongata and the diencephalon. In the brain, neurons-consisting of a nucleus, axons and dendrites-play a fundamental role, communicating with each other via axons and dendrites, sending electrical signals that release neurotransmitters.

Function of the nervous system

Primarily, the function of the nervous system is to capture and process both internal and external signals while coordinating the body. As such, it can be said that the nervous system is responsible for directing, monitoring and controlling the functions of the individual’s body, including muscles, joints, internal organs….

In order for information to reach a person’s nervous system, it uses the receptors throughout the body, such as the eyes, ears, touch through the skin… The receptors collect data and these are sent through the nerves to the nervous system.

In turn, the nervous system is also responsible for the functioning of the organism internally, controlling breathing, heartbeat… It also controls various functions, including:

  • Brain growth and development
  • Thoughts and emotions
  • Learning and memory
  • Sleep
  • Movement, coordination and balance
  • Stress
  • Aging
  • Body temperature
  • Appetite and thirst
    Multiple sclerosis, ALS, epilepsy, infectious diseases and dementia are the most common diseases of the nervous system.

Pathologies that can affect the nervous system

The nervous system can suffer from various diseases and disorders. The most common are the following:

  • Multiple sclerosis: the axons of the neurons progressively lose a substance called myelin, which is essential when transferring electrical impulses. The body gradually loses the ability to send them. Causes weakness, muscle spasms, coordination and balance problems…
  • Tumors: the variety of tumors that can affect the nervous system is wide. Some of them are astrocytomas, gliobastomas, meningiomas, gliomas…
  • Epilepsy: this is a disorder in which some groups of neurons are hypersensitized, and are activated at the slightest disturbance causing symptoms such as loss of consciousness, incoordination, weakness and in the case of very severe crises, convulsions.
  • Amytrophic lateral sclerosis: in this disease there is a progressive deterioration of the motor cells of the nervous system. The muscles stop receiving impulses over time, and eventually atrophy, preventing movement and disabling the sufferer. As the disease progresses, it may eventually affect cardiac and respiratory muscles, causing death.
  • Infections: there are several, such as HIV or syphilis, which do not alter the medulla. Meningitis, for example, is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, and is triggered by bacteria and viruses.
  • Dementias: these are diseases that are usually located in the brain and are characterized by a progressive degradation and loss of neurons, causing loss of cognitive and motor skills. Some of them are Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome and autoimmune diseases.
Read Now 👉  Nose cancer

Other diseases would be neuropathies and metabolic disorders, trauma, sectioning, mononeuropathies or neuralgias.

Treatment for nervous system pathologies

  • Multiple sclerosis: for now, sclerosis does not have a treatment that cures and eradicates it, being of preventive character and in order to stop the progression of the disease, as well as to reduce the frequency of the outbreaks.
  • Tumors: there are five standard treatments, such as active surveillance, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy.
  • Epilepsy: initially, the specialist will treat epilepsy with medication, although if it does not work with seizures, surgery may be chosen. There are therapies such as vagus nerve stimulation, brain stimulation or ketogenic diet.
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: ALS as such has no treatment and treatment is directed especially at slowing the progression of the disease through physiotherapy.
  • Meningitis: bacterial meningitis is treated with intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids, viral meningitis is supposed to heal on its own with rest and fluid intake.
  • Alzheimer’s disease: there is currently no treatment that cures Alzheimer’s disease, but there are medications that can control or delay the onset of symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
  • Parkinson’s disease: there are several treatments, ranging from drug treatment, surgery and non-pharmacological therapies.

Specialist treating central nervous system pathologies

The specialists in charge of diagnosing and treating diseases of the nervous system are the Neurologist and the Neurosurgeon. However, in the course of the diseases, numerous specialists may collaborate, such as Piscologists in the course of the disease, Oncologists or Internal Medicine Doctors.