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Lesson 5
Care and Problems of the Nervous System
How often do you engage in activities in which there is a risk of
head or spinal injury?
Proper use of helmets and safety belts protects the brain and
spinal column from injury.
Lesson 5
Lesson Objectives
In this lesson, you’ll learn to:
Examine the effects of health behaviors on the nervous
system.
Identify different types of head and spinal cord injuries.
Describe different diseases and disorders of the nervous
system.
Lesson 5
Care of the Nervous System
Importance of the Nervous System
Your nervous system interacts and coordinates with all other
body systems.
Any injury to the nervous system affects the immediate tissues
and may lead to dysfunction in other areas of the body.
Health behaviors, such as eating a well-balanced diet and
exercising regularly, affect the health of your nervous system.
Lesson 5
Care of the Nervous System
Ways to Keep Your Nervous System Healthy
To protect your head
and spine, wear a
helmet and protective
gear.
Wear a safety belt
when driving or riding
in a motor vehicle.
Before diving, always
check water depth and
look along the bottom for
protruding logs or rocks.
Avoid the use of
alcohol and drugs,
which can cause
permanent damage.
Lesson 5
Problems of the Nervous System
Head and Spinal Cord Injuries
Problems of the nervous system can result from damage to
nerve cells or injury to the head or spinal cord.
These injuries may result from falls, sports or recreational
activities, motor vehicle crashes, physical assaults, or
gunshot wounds.
Lesson 5
Problems of the Nervous System
Head Injuries
Although the brain is protected by the bones of the skull,
any direct blow to the head can cause injury.
A concussion, the mildest and most common type of brain
injury, results in a temporary loss of consciousness.
A contusion is a bruising of the brain tissues that can result
in dangerous swelling.
A major trauma to the brain can result in a coma, a state of
unconsciousness from which a person cannot be roused.
Lesson 5
Problems of the Nervous System
Spinal Injuries
Any injury to the spine must be considered serious and
should be evaluated by a health care professional.
Swelling of the spinal cord or the tissue around it in response
to trauma can result in temporary loss of nerve function.
An injury to the upper part of the spinal cord may result in
quadriplegia, or paralysis of both upper and lower limbs.
Paraplegia, paralysis of both lower limbs, can be caused by
an injury that occurs at a lower point in the spinal column.
Lesson 5
Degenerative Diseases
Common Degenerative Ailments of the Nervous System
Degenerative diseases cause affected cells and tissues to break
down or deteriorate over time.
Parkinson’s Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Alzheimer’s Disease
Lesson 5
Degenerative Diseases
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease results in the destruction of nerve cells
in an area of the brain that helps coordinate skeletal muscle
movement.
It is a progressive disorder.
As the cells are destroyed, muscle function is impaired.
Symptoms include uncontrolled muscle tremors and increased
muscle rigidity.
There is no known cause or cure at present.
Lesson 5
Degenerative Diseases
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis involves the destruction of the myelin
sheath that surrounds the axons of neurons in the CNS.
The scar tissue that remains on the neuron interferes with
the conduction of nerve impulses, and voluntary control of
muscles gradually decreases.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the
body attacks its own tissues.
Lesson 5
Degenerative Diseases
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease results when neurons in the brain are
destroyed.
If neurons become clogged with protein deposits, they are
unable to transmit impulses.
The result is confusion, loss of memory, and gradual mental
deterioration.
Currently, the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown.
Lesson 5
Other Disorders and Problems
Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy
Other disorders of the nervous system may not be progressive
or degenerative. In some cases, a cause may never be identified.
Epilepsy
Cerebral Palsy
Lesson 5
Other Disorders and Problems
Epilepsy
Epilepsy can be caused by several different factors, including
brain damage before or during birth, infections, or head injury.
Seizures may be small and brief, or they may be quite severe.
Medications can help control seizures so that a person with
epilepsy can lead a normal, healthy life.
Lesson 5
Other Disorders and Problems
Cerebral Palsy
Causes of cerebral palsy may
include infections such as
encephalitis or meningitis, head
injury, or exposure to radiation
before birth.
Physical therapy, braces to enable
walking, and medication can help
cerebral palsy patients be
independent and participate in
everyday activities.
Lesson 5
Quick Review
Provide a short answer to the question given below.
Q. What precautions should you take before diving into
water?
Click Next to view the answer.
Lesson 5
Quick Review - Answer
A. Before diving, always check water depth and look along
the bottom for protruding logs or rocks.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson 5
Quick Review
Provide a short answer to the question given below.
Q. Explain the difference between a concussion and a coma.
Click Next to view the answer.
Lesson 5
Quick Review - Answer
A. A concussion, the mildest and most common type of brain
injury, results in a temporary loss of consciousness.
A major trauma to the brain can result in a coma,
a state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be
roused.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson 5
Quick Review
Provide a short answer to the question given below.
Q. How does multiple sclerosis affect the nervous system?
Click Next to view the answer.
Lesson 5
Quick Review - Answer
A. Multiple sclerosis involves the destruction of the myelin
sheath that surrounds the axons of neurons in the CNS.
The scar tissue that remains on the neuron interferes with
the conduction of nerve impulses, and voluntary control of
muscles gradually decreases.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson 5
Quick Review
Analyze the following situation.
Examine the effects of health behaviors you can practice to
prevent injury to the nervous system. Give a specific example.
Lesson 5
Other Disorders and Problems
Epilepsy
Epilepsy can be caused by several different factors, including
brain damage before or during birth, infections, or head injury.
Epilepsy is a disorder
of thebenervous
system
Seizures may
small and
brief,that
or they may be quite severe.
is characterized by
Medications
can help
control seizures so that a person with
recurrent
seizures—sudden
epilepsy can
lead aofnormal,
healthy life.
episodes
uncontrolled
electrical
activity in the brain.
Lesson 5
Other Disorders and Problems
Cerebral Palsy
Causes of cerebral palsy may
include infections such as
Cerebral palsy refers to
encephalitis or meningitis, head
a group of non-progressive
injury, or exposure to radiation
neurological disorders that
before birth.
are the result of damage to
thetobrain
before, during, or
Physical therapy, braces
enable
just
after
birth or in early
walking, and medication
can
help
cerebral palsy patientschildhood.
be
independent and participate in
everyday activities.