Biology of ms
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that may worsen over time. The symptoms of the disease occur because the protective material surrounding nerve fibers, myelin, is damaged. Ultimately, the nerve fibers become damaged. Such destruction can result in problems ranging from mild numbness and difficulty walking to paralysis and blindness.Understanding Nerves
It's helpful first to understand how normal nerve cells work. The body contains 100 billion or more nerve cells. The central nervous system contains the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. Each nerve cell (neuron) has a body with branching tendrils (axons). The axons of one nerve cell communicate with the axons of other nerve cells, sending and receiving messages from the brain and spinal cord. These messages tell the body how and when to perform a certain action. They communicate movements, touches, smells, sounds, and sights.The axons of most neurons are wrapped in a protective insulating sheath called myelin, which has the same function as the material wrapped around electrical wires—myelin protects the neurons. The nerve cells send electrical impulses along their insulated fibers to other nerve cells. Impulses require less energy and move faster along fibers covered with myelin than those without.
There are cells in the central nervous system that produce myelin, cells that remove debris during damage, and cells that help substances pass through to the brain and heal damaged nerves.
