Nerves are the most important formations. They are bundles of nerve fibers that are enclosed in a connective tissue case called epineuria. The number of nerves in the human body is very large. At the same time, there are quite large trunks, and very small branches.
About nerves
Nerves are a kind of highways, through which a huge amount of information is transmitted every second. It is generated in a great many receptors, which are scattered throughout the body, including on its surface. At the same time, the receptors collect information that subsequently enters the brain, where ideas about the environment and the internal state of the body are generated. After that, a response is formed in the cerebral cortex. As a nerve impulse, it moves along the fibers to those nerves that force one or another structure of the body to act according to the established scheme.
What science studies nerves?
In this case, we are talking about neurology. This science is a whole complex of knowledge about nerve tissue, as well as about the mechanisms of impulse transmission through specialized fibers. In addition, neurology studies all disorders of the body associated with pathology of the nervous tissue. Also, specialists in this field are developing effective methods for the diagnosis and treatment of nerve diseases.
About nerve tissue damage
Nerves are very complex structures. At the same time, the body has both very small branches of this tissue, and entire nerve trunks. Especially dangerous for the body are damage to precisely large structures. The fact is that it is thanks to them that the relationship between the main organs, muscle groups and analyzers on the one hand and the brain on the other is realized.
The most common problem associated with nerves is the inflammatory process that develops in their tissues. Most often, this leads to rather unpleasant sensations in those areas that are innervated by damaged structures. In this case, often the pain is not limited to. Often, the process leads to a violation of the function of certain structures of the body.
There are no doubts that nerves are very important structures. This is also evidenced by the fact that, at their complete intersection, the activity of organs and tissues innervated by them is disrupted. In the event that, for example, the auditory nerve is damaged on two sides, a person may completely lose the ability to analyze sound vibrations. At the same time, this tissue regenerates extremely slowly, and more often than not, its completely crossed structure, consisting of it, no longer restores its integrity. As a result, the auditory nerve after serious damage can no longer recover. Moreover, the ability to analyze sound vibrations on the affected side will not return.
So nerve damage is a rather dangerous pathology, which can lead to serious disturbances in the activity of the whole organism.
About the facial nerve
One of the most important and often mentioned is precisely this nerve. The fact is that he alone is responsible for a rather vast and very significant area. It is from him that all the nerves of the face originate. It is one of the 12 nerve trunks called craniocerebral. It is thanks to him that each person has the opportunity to express his attitude to a particular event with the help of facial muscles. A very dangerous condition is when these nerves are damaged. Photos of people with complete intersection of these nerves display a completely unemotional face. In addition, with this pathology, there is a violation of the functions of chewing, swallowing and phonation.
Motor impairment
Nerves are a kind of highway through which information flows not only into the brain, but also in the opposite direction. If damage to a particular nerve occurs, paresis or even paralysis of a particular muscle group is possible.
For coordination of movements in the upper extremities, the ulnar nerve is of rather great importance. From a functional point of view, it is mixed. This means that the ulnar nerve is able to conduct impulses to muscle groups and from surface receptors to the brain. In the first case, the motor function is realized, and in the second, it is sensitive. When this nerve is completely crossed, the person loses sensitivity in the little finger and ring finger. The middle finger of the brush partially suffers. In addition, the possibility of bending, mixing and breeding in this area is lost. Also, a person becomes unable to bring a thumb, which seriously reduces the quality of life.
About spinal injuries
What are nerves and how much significance they possess can be understood by the example of the spinal cord. The fact is that it is the second largest accumulation of nervous tissue after the brain. It is through it that information from the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures passes to all organs and tissues. According to the spinal cord, the data obtained by the receptors are sent for further analysis to the brain.
Perhaps the most dangerous are damage to the spinal trunk. The fact is that they can lead to complete paralysis of the human body. Similar is observed at the intersection of the spinal cord in the cervical region. In the event that the integrity of the nerve trunk is violated at the level of the thoracic vertebrae, a person loses the ability to control his legs and pelvic organs.
Damage to nerve tissue in diabetes
One of the common complications of diabetes is distal polyneuropathy. It represents damage to nerve fibers under the influence of a constantly elevated level of glucose in the body. The fact is that such an imbalance in metabolism leads to serious trophic disturbances. In the future, this contributes to atrophy of the nervous tissue. Small nerves located in the distal upper and lower extremities are particularly susceptible to this pathological process.
With damage to the nervous tissue in this area, the sensitivity of proprioceptive receptors is impaired. In addition, he may begin to feel a burning or tingling sensation, which will first spread only to the tips of his fingers, and then gradually rise higher. In the case of the development of this complication, getting rid of it is extremely difficult. That is why it is very important for patients with diabetes to constantly monitor the level of glucose in their blood.
Strokes and their effects on the brain
One of the most dangerous conditions in neurology is cerebral hemorrhage. It is called a stroke. This condition is dangerous in that it can lead to significant violations of the human body due to damage to entire sections of the nervous tissue of the brain, and in some cases to death.
The occurrence of stroke is often due to a significant increase in blood pressure, followed by rupture of the vessel and hemorrhage. As a result, one or another part of the brain is damaged.
The most common disorders arising from strokes are paralysis and paresis in the lower and upper extremities, speech disorders and facial expressions. Many patients after hemorrhage in the brain remain paralyzed for life. In order to restore the function previously lost, it is necessary to carry out serious and lengthy rehabilitation measures. However, they are not always successful.
On the prospects of research in neurology
Nerves are very complex and incompletely studied structures. Currently, neurologists from around the planet are trying to develop new techniques for the restoration of nervous tissue. If a method is discovered that significantly accelerates the regeneration of nerve tissue, this will solve a huge number of medical problems. Patients who have suffered serious spinal injuries will be able to move on their own again, returning to a normal social life.
Another promising area is the creation of a synthetic implant that can replace damaged areas of nerve tissue. Some developments in this area already exist, but their high use in medical practice is hindered by the too high cost of such implants. Currently, most often the integrity of the damaged area of the nerve tissue is restored using its prosthetics with its own diaphragmatic nerve.