In this post we are discussing what this blog is all about, the nervous system! I have found this system to be the most interesting by far because it is so intricate and our brain dictates every single thing our body does. Our brain is the control center of our body and without it, none of our muscles, organs, or other structures would receive instruction to do all the things they do. Our brain sends out these signals through the brain stem, down the spinal cord, and then the messages branch out through the nerves from there. On a deeper level, the messages travel down the nerves through axons. Axons begin with inside the cell body which is embedded in the dendrites, which receive the messages from another axon, the message then travels down the length of the axon and ends at the axon terminal and makes its way to another axon. As does all electric wiring, the axons are insulated by myelin sheaths and the spaces between those sheaths nodes of Ranvier. On the nodes of Ranvier are Schwann’s cells which produce myelin. One problem that can commonly affect the brain and nervous system is epilepsy. Epilepsy is characterized by common and reoccurring seizures. Seizures are caused by abnormal electric activity in the brain. Seizures can look like the body convulsing or the person can sit completely still and seem to stare off into space. Epilepsy is treated with medicine in attempt to control and usually only last for a couple of years for most victims. "Epilepsy Center: Symptoms, Seizures, Treatments, Causes, and Tests." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. "Seizures." MedlinePlus. ADAM Inc, 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. |