Nervous SystemNervous System

By Mark de Jong, By Mark de Jong, Alana Cribb-Williams, Alana Cribb-Williams,

Sam Thompson & Sam Thompson & Charlotte BonnyCharlotte Bonny

ContentsContentsWhat is the nervous system??What is the nervous system??

Example of the Nervous system at wExample of the Nervous system at work??ork??

How does the nervous system work?How does the nervous system work?So how does it pass along messages?So how does it pass along messages?

??So your nervous system is made up oSo your nervous system is made up o

f…f…Multiple SclerosisMultiple Sclerosis

What is the Nervous What is the Nervous System??System??

The Nervous System is made up of your The Nervous System is made up of your brain, spinal cord and nerves and is the brain, spinal cord and nerves and is the control centre for your entire body. With control centre for your entire body. With out it you could not possibly exist as it out it you could not possibly exist as it control everything you do. Such as control everything you do. Such as moving, hearing, smelling, breathing and moving, hearing, smelling, breathing and even things like thinking, dreaming and even things like thinking, dreaming and remembering.remembering.

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Example of the nervous system Example of the nervous system at work.at work.

If you put your hand on a hot stove the If you put your hand on a hot stove the nerves in your skin send a message of nerves in your skin send a message of pain to your brain. The brain then sends a pain to your brain. The brain then sends a message back telling the muscles in your message back telling the muscles in your hand to pull away.hand to pull away.

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How does the Nervous How does the Nervous System work?System work?

The nervous system controls everything The nervous system controls everything you do by sending messages back and you do by sending messages back and forth from your brain to coordinate all of forth from your brain to coordinate all of your actions and reactions.your actions and reactions.

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Nerves are thin threads of nerve cells Nerves are thin threads of nerve cells called neurons that run through out your called neurons that run through out your body. They are all bundled together and body. They are all bundled together and send the messages to and from your brain send the messages to and from your brain to all the muscles in your body.to all the muscles in your body.

There are two different types of nerves, There are two different types of nerves, Sensory nerves and Motor nerves. Sensory nerves and Motor nerves.

Sensory nerves send messages Sensory nerves send messages toto the the brain where as Motor nerves transport brain where as Motor nerves transport messages messages fromfrom your brain. your brain.

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So how does it pass along So how does it pass along messages??messages??

Neurons are shaped almost like stars and Neurons are shaped almost like stars and to varying degrees each point is stretched to varying degrees each point is stretched so that they have long fingers. Neurons so that they have long fingers. Neurons are very thin some are very small and are very thin some are very small and some can be 3 feet long. some can be 3 feet long.

Nerves as mentioned before are long Nerves as mentioned before are long threads of neurons where the fingers of threads of neurons where the fingers of each neuron almost reach the fingers of a each neuron almost reach the fingers of a another.another.

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When a neuron is stimulated (by heat, a cold When a neuron is stimulated (by heat, a cold touch, sound vibrations or some other message) touch, sound vibrations or some other message) it generates a tiny electrical pulse.it generates a tiny electrical pulse.

The electricity & chemical change travels the The electricity & chemical change travels the length of the neuron. When its gets to the finger-length of the neuron. When its gets to the finger-like point it needs help to get to the next neuron, like point it needs help to get to the next neuron, so that’s where the chemicals come in. The so that’s where the chemicals come in. The electrical pulse in the cells triggers a release of electrical pulse in the cells triggers a release of chemicals that carry the pulse to the next cell chemicals that carry the pulse to the next cell and so goes until the message completes the and so goes until the message completes the length of the nerve and delivers the message.length of the nerve and delivers the message.

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So the main components of are So the main components of are Nervous System are…Nervous System are…

The BrainThe BrainThe Spinal cordThe Spinal cordNeuronsNeurons

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The BrainThe Brain

The Brain is the command centre of your The Brain is the command centre of your entire body and is made up of billions of entire body and is made up of billions of neurons. Its role in the nervous system is neurons. Its role in the nervous system is to send messages down the motor nerves to send messages down the motor nerves to all the muscles and glands in the body. to all the muscles and glands in the body.

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The Spinal CordThe Spinal Cord

The Spinal Cord is a tube neurons that The Spinal Cord is a tube neurons that runs up your spine ands attaches to your runs up your spine ands attaches to your brain stem. All nerves spread out from the brain stem. All nerves spread out from the spinal cord and some message are even spinal cord and some message are even processed in the spinal cord but most processed in the spinal cord but most message are sent to the brain. It is the message are sent to the brain. It is the main highway of nerves.main highway of nerves.

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NeuronsNeurons

Neurons are the cells that make up Neurons are the cells that make up nerves. They carry the messages.nerves. They carry the messages.

There are two types of nerves:There are two types of nerves:Sensory nerves which send the messages Sensory nerves which send the messages to the brain from all the muscles and to the brain from all the muscles and glands in your body.glands in your body.Motor nerves which send messages from Motor nerves which send messages from your brain to all the muscle and glands in your brain to all the muscle and glands in your body.your body.

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Multiple Sclerosis - The BasicsMultiple Sclerosis - The Basics

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease,disease, this means that the immune system attacks a this means that the immune system attacks a vital component of your body. vital component of your body.

Multiple Sclerosis can be caused by aMultiple Sclerosis can be caused by a genetic genetic predisposition that means when exposed to a predisposition that means when exposed to a virus or toxin your immune system attacks the virus or toxin your immune system attacks the myelinmyelin. The myelin protects and speeds up . The myelin protects and speeds up messages that are sent around the body. When messages that are sent around the body. When attacked it slows down nerve impulses and attacked it slows down nerve impulses and eventually stops messages altogether causing eventually stops messages altogether causing death. This means it is a progressive disease.death. This means it is a progressive disease.

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Multiple Sclerosis – In DepthMultiple Sclerosis – In Depth

Multiple Sclerosis is a Multiple Sclerosis is basically Multiple Sclerosis is a Multiple Sclerosis is basically inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is a disease inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is a disease of the tissue matter. This tissue is made up of nerve of the tissue matter. This tissue is made up of nerve fibers which are responsible for sending communication fibers which are responsible for sending communication signals within and between the Central Nervous System signals within and between the Central Nervous System (CNS), and the nerves supplying the rest of the body. (CNS), and the nerves supplying the rest of the body. Neurons and white tissue are most likely to be attacked Neurons and white tissue are most likely to be attacked in MS. During periods of MS activity white blood cells in MS. During periods of MS activity white blood cells (leukocytes) are drawn to regions of the white matter. (leukocytes) are drawn to regions of the white matter. These initiate and take part in what is known as the These initiate and take part in what is known as the inflammatory response. The resulting inflammation is inflammatory response. The resulting inflammation is similar to what happens in your skin when you get a similar to what happens in your skin when you get a pimple. pimple.

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CreditsCreditsBy By AllamaAllama, , MuffinMuffin, , SamboSambo

& & Mark DEgongMark DEgong

With special thanks to With special thanks to NedNed