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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 will learn to:
• Examine the effects of health behavior on the nervous
system
• List different types of head and spinal cord injuries
• Define disease 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
Other Disorders and Problems
5
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
Q. You can help protect your head and spine by doing
which of the following?
1. Wearing a helmet while riding a bike
2. Wearing a safety belt when driving
3. Checking the depth of the water before diving into a
pool or lake
4. All of the above
Lesson
5
Quick Review - Answer
A. 4. All of the above
Wearing protective gear and taking basic precautions
when engaging in contact sports and activities can help
protect your head and spine.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
5
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. A ___ is the most common
type of brain injury.
1. Coma
2. Headache
3. Concussion
4. Stroke
Lesson
5
Quick Review - Answer
A. 3. concussion
A concussion, the mildest and most common type of brain
injury, results in a temporary loss of consciousness,
sometimes lasting only a few seconds.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
5
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. ___ results in the
destruction of nerve cells in
an area of the brain that
helps coordinate skeletal
muscle movement.
1. Multiple sclerosis
2. Parkinson’s disease
3. Alzheimer’s disease
4. Cerebral palsy
Lesson
Quick Review - Answer
5
A. 2. Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder. As the cells
of the brain are destroyed, muscle function is impaired.
Symptoms include uncontrolled muscle tremors and
muscle rigidity.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
5
End of Lesson 5
Click Home to view the Main menu.
Lesson
5
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! Wearing protective gear and taking basic
precautions when engaging in contact sports and activities
can help protect your head and spine.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
5
Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try
again, or click Next to view the correct answer.
Lesson
5
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! A concussion, the mildest and most common
type of brain injury, results in a temporary loss of
consciousness, sometimes lasting only a few seconds.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
5
Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try
again, or click Next to view the correct answer.
Lesson
5
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder. As
the cells of the brain are destroyed, muscle function is
impaired. Symptoms include uncontrolled muscle tremors
and muscle rigidity.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
5
Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try
again, or click Next to view the correct answer.
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
Epilepsy is a disorder
injury.
of the nervous system that
is may
characterized
by brief, or they may be quite
• Seizures
be small and
severe. recurrent seizures—sudden
episodes of uncontrolled
• Medications
can help control seizures so that a person with
electrical
epilepsyactivity
can lead
a normal,
in the
brain. healthy life.
Lesson
5
Other Disorders and Problems
Cerebral Palsy
• Causes of cerebral palsy may
include infections such as
encephalitis or meningitis,Cerebral
head palsy refers to
a radiation
group of non-progressive
injury, or exposure to
neurological disorders that
before birth.
are the result of damage to
the brain
before, during, or
• Physical therapy, braces
to enable
just after
birth or in early
walking, and medication
can help
childhood.
cerebral palsy patients
be
independent and participate in
everyday activities.