About the nervous system in the human body
In the human body, the nervous system is a complex and arguably sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates body activities. It is made up of two major divisions:
1. The central nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord
2. The peripheral nervous system consisting of all the other neural elements
In addition to the brain and spinal cord, principal organs of the nervous system include:
1. The eyes
2. The ears
3. The sensory organs of taste
4. The sensory organs of smell
5. The sensory receptors located in the skin, muscles and other parts of the body
Nervous system diseases
Because of the way the nervous system is wired in the human body, it is susceptible and vulnerable to various diseases and disorders. Nervous system diseases are most often caused by factors including:
1. Trauma
2. Infections
3. Degeneration
4. Structural defects
5. Tumors
6. Disruptions to the blood flow
7. Autoimmune disorders
The common nervous system diseases
1. Vascular disorders including stroke, transient ischemic attack, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage and hematoma and extradural hemorrhage
2. Infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, polio and epidural abscess
3. Structural disorders such as brain or spinal cord injury, Bell’s palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome, brain or spinal cord tumors and Guillain-Barré syndrome
4. Functional disorders including headache, epilepsy, dizziness and neuralgia
5. Degeneration including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s chorea and Alzheimer’s disease
Signs and symptoms of the nervous system diseases
Nervous system diseases are quite diverse in nature so the common signs and symptoms of the nervous system diseases vary. Nevertheless, for the sake of this small compilation of information about the nervous system diseases, the most documented symptoms for the nervous system diseases include persistent or sudden onset of a headache, loss of feeling or tingling, weakness or loss of muscle strength, sudden loss of sight or double vision, memory loss, impaired mental awareness, lack of body coordination, muscle rigidity, tremors and seizures and back pain that radiates to the feet, toes and other parts of the body. Slurred speech can also be a very common telltale sign of the forthcoming doom.
The difference between neurology, neurological surgery and rehabilitation for neurological disorders
Neurology
Neurology is the branch of medicine that manages nervous system disorders. The medical doctors who treat nervous system disorders are called neurologists.
Neurological surgery
Neurological surgery is the branch of medicine that provides surgical intervention for the nervous system disorders. Surgeons who operate as a treatment team for nervous system disorders are called neurological surgeons or neurosurgeons.
Rehabilitation for neurological disorders
The branch of medicine that provides rehabilitative care for patients with nervous system disorders is called physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physicians specializing in this process are called physiatrists.