THE

SPINAL CORD
Spinal Cord
It is protected by the spinal column or
backbone.
It serves as the extension of our brain. It is the
main link between the brain and the body.
It is made up of gray matter, which contains the
bodies of nerve cells, and white matter which
contains nerve fibers.
Spinal Cord
1. To serve as the pathway of nerve impulses to
and from the brain.
2. To serve as a reflex center
The spinal cord is a very delicate organ. When a
part of it is damaged, a person could be
paralyzed.
 THE
NEURONS/NERVE CELLS
Neurons/Nerve Cells
It is the basic unit of nervous system.
Their main function is to collect and carry
nerve impulses.
There are three types of nerves:
sensory, motor and connector nerves.
1. Sensory Nerves
Through the sensory nerves,
the brain and spinal cord
receives messages from the
different parts of the body.
2. Motor Nerves
The brain and spinal cord may send
messages to body tissues and
organs, instructing them to take
appropriate action through the motor
nerves.
3. Connector Nerves

It connects the sensory nerve

with the motor nerve and carry
impulses between them.
Ailments of the
Nervous System
The nervous system, being the control
center of the body, is extremely
important.
When the nervous system is damaged as
in a disease or injury, the
repercussions to the body’s other
function could be just as serious.
Polio
It affects the muscles of the limbs and the muscles controlling
breathing and swallowing.
The disease starts with a polio virus multiplying in the lining of
the throat and stomach.
The symptoms are muscle pain, and difficulty in breathing and
swallowing. One leg or arm may be weaker.
In serious cases, the nerve cells may be destroyed by the
infection and the victim becomes paralyzed.
 Polio cannot be
treated by taking
medicine.
Patients with polio
undergo physical
therapy to help retain
muscle function.
Meningitis
It is the inflammation of the meninges due to
the bacteria or viral infection.
A person with meningitis experiences severe
headache, fever, irritability and neck stiffness.
He or she may also lose his or her ability to
talk in a normal way.
Rabies
Also called hydrophobia, it is an acute infection of the
central nervous system caused by the rabies virus.
Dogs, cats and monkeys are known carriers of the virus.
Rabid animals carry the virus in their saliva.
Among the symptoms are numbness, pain and burning
sensation in the infected area. Later these are followed by
paralysis of muscles used for swallowing and fear of water,
Sleeping Sickness
It is a disease caused by a parasite which attacks
the nervous system.
The tsetse fly is the carrier of this parasite.
When the fly bites a person, he or she becomes
infected.
The symptoms of sleeping sickness are fever,
swelling of lymph nodes, skin rashes and
weakness.
Brain Tumor
It is any abnormal growth of brain tissues.
Brain tissues can either be benign or
malignant.
They may also spread to the other organs of
the body through the bloodstream.
Symptoms include headache with nausea
and vomiting.
Parkinson’s Disease
It is a motor system disorder.
It happens when the neuron pathways in the brain are
destroyed.
People with Parkinson’s disease manifest trembling in
the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face, stiffness in the limbs
and slowness of movement.
They may also experience postural instability, poor
coordination, difficulty in walking, talking and completing
simple tasks.
Assignment #1

Answer Page 134-135

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