Case Study: Multiple Sclerosis

Question 1

what does MS affect?

Answer 1

primarily the CNS

Question 2

what does MS affect directly?

Answer 2

oligodendrocytes (cells in the CNS that make myelin)

Question 3

what type of disease is MS?

Answer 3

autoimmune disease

Question 4

what is an autoimmune disease?

Answer 4

occurs when the body’s own immune defenses attack its own host cells- “T cells” attack oligodendrocytes and “B cells” attach to the oligodendrocytes and serve as a red flag to the immune system

Question 5

what happens during MS?

Answer 5

myelin becomes eroded/destroyed due to the body attacking its oligodendrocytes which make the myelin

Question 6

what forms during MS and where does it form?

Answer 6

plaques form on brain and erodes the myelin sheath

Question 7

what happens as a result of the myelin sheath being eroded?

Answer 7

cells have more K+ leakage which causes less conduction

Question 8

what does MS decrease/inhibit?

Answer 8

decreases conduction velocity and can inhibit the AP altogether causing certain neurons to stop working