Understanding Multiple Sclerosis: A Neuron Perspective

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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. …show more content…

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

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