Multiple Sclerosis Primary Lesion/pathology Of The Condition

Multiple sclerosis Primary lesion/pathology of the condition
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Introduction
Imagine waking up one morning and discovering you cannot coordinate your movement, have muscle weakness, double vision, and blindness for eternity. Such symptoms are a reality to about 2.3 million people in the world and approximately one million people in the United States due to multiple sclerosis (MS) (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2018). Multiple sclerosis refers to an autoimmune disease that comes about when the immune system in the body presents an abnormal response against the central nervous system (CNS). The immune system induces swelling which damages nerve fibers and the fatty substance that coats the nerve fibers, altering and stopping the messages within the CNS altogether. The disease affects various structures, presents through multiple signs and symptoms and is treatable through different options.
Primary lesion/pathology of the condition
Multiple sclerosis forms through lesions in the central nervous system, swelling and damage of the myelin sheaths of neurons (Compton & Coles, 2008, Oct, pp.1502). Together, they work together to cause the breakdown of the nervous tissue. Lesions, also known as plagues, primarily affect the white matter comprising of the optic nerve, brain stem and spinal cord which transmits signals to the grey matter for processing to the entire body (Compton & Coles, 2008, Oct, pp.1502). When MS occurs, it induces the loss of the cells responsible for making and maintaining the myelin sheath fatty layer, which helps in carrying electric signals. Consequently, destruction of the fatty layer occurs, giving way for the disease to attack the axons of the neurons. The body tries to repair the neurons and the fatty layer, but the continued development of the illness succeeds in attacking them leading to the buildup of lesions around the damaged axon. During the relapsing-remitting course of the disease, the pathology of MS develops inflammation. The T-cells, which are essential in defending the body enter the brain (Compton & Coles, 2008, Oct, pp.1502). Once in the brain, they consider myelin as a foreign substance and attack it triggering inflammation which inhibits the transmission of information between neurons.
Structures in the nervous system affected by MS
Multiple sclerosis affects the brain and the spinal cord. Also, it influences the upper motor neurons, lower motor neurons, and nerves (Mayo Clinic, 2018).
Common signs and symptoms of MS
The development of MS differs from patient to patient depending on the position of the nerve fibers affected. According to Mayo Clinic, the first symptom is numbness of one or more limbs, which occurs on separate occasion on one side of the body, then on the legs and the trunk. Partial or total loss of vision is the second symptom that affects one eye before proceeding to the other with pain whenever the eye moves. The third symptom is experiencing extended periods of double vision. Fourth, one e...