Neuron+-+LAW

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=Introduction= Think about text messages. You type the message, then when you press send, technology in your phone processes it, sending it lightning fast to the recipient. Then they respond, sending it back. This is basically the function of neurons. They send messages back and forth, making every organ and system in your body functional. They have many unique parts that helps send and receive these impulses. However, they are not indestructible, and there is a variety of different defects that can shut down parts of your nervous system, and slowly make you immobile, or maybe even make you unable to feel certain senses. Overall, they are what make up the most important system in your body.

=The Telephone Lines of Your Body=

Neurons are one of the most vital cells in your body. They act as the body’s satellite, sending messages back and forth, from your sensory organs (the organs that process and pretty much are your senses) to your brain, then to your neuromuscular system (the system of neurons that sends messages to muscles). These are what make up your nervous system, which is what controls your reactions to the environment, and all of the other systems. Without it, nothing in your body could function. It is made up of 2 main parts - central and peripheral. The central nervous system is made up of the spinal cord and brain, which act as a sort of control center. The spinal cord receives messages from the peripheral system, and sends them up to your brain. The brain receives the messages from your neurons, and then it either decides to react instinctively, or you choose consciously. This depends on the situation. Now, the peripheral system. It is the main carrier of nerve impulses from your sensory organs to your brain, then back down again. However, it is has a smaller system connected to it; the autonomic system. It is a “special part of the peripheral nervous system. The autonomic nervous system regulates such automatic bodily processes as breathing and digestion without conscious control by the brain. This constant regulation enables the body to maintain a stable internal environment” As stated by World Book Student. It is what controls your involuntary actions, such breathing, and digestion. Furthermore, it is also has smaller systems connected to it - the sympathetic, and parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system responds to your body’s needs during increased activity and emergencies with energy, and the parasympathetic does the opposite, slowing down your heart rate and calming you down. Now, onto the neurons. The neurons are the specialized cells that up your nervous system. They are what send and receive nerve impulses, the messages neurons send, and can even be specialized themselves. There are sensory neurons, neuromuscular neurons, brain neurons, etc. They all serve the same purpose - to keep your body functional. However, there are specific parts of a nerve cell that help it function… == A color-coded diagram of the different parts of the nervous system.

=The Structure of a Nerve Cell=

Like many other cells, neurons have different specialized parts that help it send nerve impulses. These include; the dendrites, the cell body, which is where the nucleus and other organelles (the main parts of a cell that are similar in all of them) are, the axon, which is the long, almost highway for the nerve impulses, and axon tips, which are what send the impulses to other nerve cells. Each of these structures play an important role for the nerves overall functionality. For example, dendrites are what receive the nerve impulses, using its “branching, tube-like extensions of the cell body that form a pattern resembling the limbs of a tree”, as said by World Book Student, to have the impulses transmitted from the nerve above, or next to it. Then, the impulse travels further down each of the other structures, and eventually leads up to your brain. The impulse is then processed and sent back down to the neuromuscular nerves, and makes your muscles extend and/or contract, resulting in a movement. There are many ways that this can happen, and not happen, due to the variety of diseases and defects found in neurons.

Here is a picture of nerve cells. Notice the many variations in how the nerve cells are connected.

=How Defects and Diseases Affect Neurons=

Like all cells, they are not immune to pathogens (the fancy term for germs), or defects. There are many different diseases that occur because of these, for example; ALS. ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a nerve defect that slowly shuts down your neuromuscular system, causes paralysis,or your muscles no longer being functional. It happens slowly, and scientists don’t know the exact cause or 90 to 95 percent of cases. Some five to ten percent of people diagnosed with ALS have inherited the defect, but the rest is unknown. Effects include; difficulty walking and doing normal tasks, tripping and falling, weakness in your limbs, slurred speech, spasms, and many other normal things that we take for granted. There are risks to this diseases, or things that increase the chance of being diagnosed with it, such as age, gender, and certain genetic mutations. Some theories of the cause of Lou Gehrig’s disease include; the genetic mutation theory, in which studies show that inherited ALS shows multiple genetic mutations, which is a permanent change of a gene, and some of them have been found in non-inherited ALS. In the chemical imbalance theory, ALS victims have a higher glutamate levels, which is a protein that surrounds neurons and is a neurotransmitter, “which can be deadly to neurons if there is too much of it,” As said by Mayo Clinic, a hospital and medical research center. Another theory is the disorganized immune response, which is where the immune system attacks its own cells, which includes nerve cells. This will cause death of many nerve cells. Yet another theory is chemical mishandling, in which the proteins your nerve cells produce gather and accumulate outside of nerve cells, instead of being sent to one another, which can destroy the nerve. All of these are plausible, but none are confirmed yet. Here is a real life example of someone living with with Lou Gehrig's disease. media type="youtube" key="8AlUBSeo_Z8" width="560" height="315" This video shows the life of Are, a man diagnosed with a form of ALS. You'll want to turn on CC while watching, due to it being in different language.

Other diseases include diabetic neuropathies, which are the result of having untreated diabetes for a long period of time, and can va ry in severity. It affects many systems and organs in your body, and is varied. Yet another disease is cerebral palsy, a birth defect that is a group of neurological disorders that causes paralysis.

Although these diseases make it difficult to live and do normal things, doctors and medical researchers are coming up with treatments and maybe even possible cures.

= Conclusion = Now, you know how vital neurons are. Their functionality is indispensable to your body, and there are different functions of all the parts of the nerve cell. Finally, you now know of the different, life-changing defects and diseases that can affect your nervous system’s functionality. Now that you have all this information on your nervous system, you have an even better understanding of how your body works. Now take care of yourself, and your senses. *mic drop*

= References =

= = Coolidge-Stolz, Elizabeth, et al. Human Biology and Health. Boston, Pearson, 2009. = = Dyck, Peter J., et al. “Nerve Damage (Diabetic Neuropathies).” The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Health Information Center, Nov. 2013, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/nerve-damage-diabetic-neuropathies#effect. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. = = The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Cerebral Palsy.” Encyclopædia Britannica, by The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 5 Feb. 2016, www.britannica.com/science/cerebral-palsy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. = = Krane, Eliot, and Franz Palomares. “How Do Nerves Work? - Eliot Krane.” TedEd, Ted Conferences, LLC, 2017, ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-nerves-work. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. = = “Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).” Kids Health, Nemours, 2017, kidshealth.org/en/kids/als.html. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. = = Mayo Clinic Staff. “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation, 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20247211. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. = = “Neurons.” BrainPOP, 2017, www.brainpop.com/health/bodysystems/neurons/. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. = Stevens, Charles F. “Nervous System.” World Book Student. World Book, 2017. Web. 30 Jan. 2017. =

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