Brain – The Most Important Organ

You might say the heart or the lung, but the majority would likely answer the brain. Everything you do is controlled by the brain.

The brain transmits information through what is called neurons. The neurons then transmit the signals through what are called anxons. Myelin is then covered to make the signals go faster. It may be surprising to learn that most of the brain’s fat is fat. The brain is actually the largest organ with fat content. The brain works like a well-oiled machine. When neurons get clumped together, they create grey matter and then white matter. They then form the brain’s entire structure. The main nerve that connects the brain with the rest is the vagus. Because of the information that flows through it, the vagus is often called the brain’s “Highway of the brain”. The brainstem is the largest and most important component of the brain. It controls breathing, heartbeat, as well other vital system. The brain then is divided into two hemispheres. There are also cortexes. Logical thinking is controlled by the left hemisphere. It controls speech. Your creative side is controlled by the right hemisphere. It’s responsible for artistic ability, as well as helping you to recognize people. Both hemispheres control opposite sides of the body. The right controls the left side and the left controls the right. The immune system is the name of this system. Phagocytes are the first cells to arrive. Macrophage is the specific type of phagocyte that I will be referring to. It is the first defense to viruses and bacteria. However they can become infected by virus, so natural killer cell cells are created in the body. The Macrophages can be very effective in fighting bacterial infections, but they can also cause inflammation and create Neutrophils. The Neutrophils have the power to inflict damage on the body. The macrophages may also call the Dendritic cells, an immune cell that is responsible for protecting the body from future infections. The Dendritic tissue will begin to accumulate antigens. The antigens then travel through lymphatic tissue to a lymphocyte. They will then activate T and/or B cells. The T-cells activate the B cell and then the B cells produce antibodies that kill bacteria and viruses. The T cells and B cell remnants will then be activated by the B-cells. They will produce antibodies that kill the virus/bacteria. This is how vaccines function!

We can now talk about certain diseases. M.S. is the first disease I’ll discuss. (Multiple Sclerosis.) An autoimmune attack is what causes this disease. An autoimmune reaction is when your immune system accidentally attacks you. Natural killer cells are among the most dangerous cells that can attack your own body. In normal immune systems, suppressor cells can be found to help stop the attacks. M.S. patients have a lack of suppressor cells. The patients with M.S. suffer from a deficiency of suppressor and natural killer cell cells. This causes the myelin to be destroyed and can lead to M.S. symptoms. These symptoms can include depression, headache, sleep deprivation, and many others. Prions are another neurodegenerative disease. Prions, malformed proteins, can infect proteins and cause them to turn into prions. Prions are found mainly in cerebrospinal and spinal fluid. Prions are most commonly found in cerebrospinal fluid. You can get it by eating meat that has been contaminated with the disease. Mad Cow disease is one example. It’s also known as vCJD in humans. However, the commonality between these prions is their 100% mortality rate within one to two year.

You may now be wondering, “Does the brain have any ways to prevent diseases such as those that can harm it?” The Blood Brain Barrier is also known as this and is designed to protect the brain from diseases like those mentioned in the title. The barrier acts as a mesh and can prevent most viruses and bacteria from entering the brain. The BBB protects the brain from infection by keeping immune cells away. Brain infections can be very serious if they do occur.

Back in the 19th-century, they didn’t have a clue about the delicate machinery of brain function. They began to alter it. In an attempt to treat seizures, they developed a procedure that saw them cut the cord connecting both hemispheres. The procedure worked for a while but patients began reporting that one hemisphere was acting kind of by itself. They would eat one thing and have the other part do another. This happens because their brains don’t communicate very well. The brain sent random signals to all parts of their brain, which is why seizures are so rare.

All of these diseases are incurable… for now. Consider the future and think about what might happen. Also, consider how medicine will change to treat these diseases. This advice will help you make the world a better place, and stop all diseases!