How does the Central Nervous System (CNS) work?
Together the brain and the spinal cord are known as the CNS. Inside the CNS there are billions of nerve cells called neuron. These nerve cells communicate by sending electrical signals. These signals travel along a part of the nerve cell called an axon (nerve fibre). Electrical signals are sent along the axons at high speeds, sending information between nerve cells. Axons (nerve fibres) are covered with a protective fatty substance called the myelin sheath. Myelin is similar to the coating around electrical wires. Myelin is crucial in sending messages along the axon at a rapid rate. The myelin insulates the axon, ensuring that the message being sent does not dissipate. The axons convey messages throughout the CNS allowing you to perform many functions. What happens in MS? In MS a type of immune cell known as a T cell becomes activated and starts to multiply. These immune cells cross the blood- brain barrier (see glossary definition) into the CNS. Once inside the CNS, these immune cells
