Pathologies: Glial Cells and Brain Tumors/ Myelin Sheath

Tumor

- Masses of rapidly dividing cells

- Mature neurons have little or no capacity for mitosis (cell division)

Brain tumors arise from

- Meninges (protective membranes of CNS)

- Metastasis from nonneuronal tumors in other organs

- Glial cells that are mitotically active throughout life

Gliomas

- Grow rapidly and can be highly malignant or not at all

- Blood–brain barrier decreases effectiveness of chemotherapy

- Treatment consists of radiation or surgery

Multiple sclerosis

- Oligodendrocytes and myelin sheaths in CNS deteriorate

- Myelin replaced by hardened scar tissue

- Nerve conduction disrupted

Multiple sclerosis effects to patient

Double vision, tremors, numbness, speech defects

When does multiple sclerosis start

Onset between 20 and 40 and fatal from 25 to 30 years after diagnosis

Cause of multiple sclerosis

Cause may be autoimmune triggered by virus, genetic also