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Need-to-Know Anatomy
The central nervous system, which includes the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord, is made up of nerves that act as the body's messenger system. The nerve fibers are covered by a fatty, protein-rich substance called myelin, which insulates the nerves and helps in the transmission of impulses, the messages between the brain and other parts of the body. In multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath is destroyed, in a process called demyelination. Without the myelin, signals transmitted throughout the central nervous system are disrupted or halted. The brain becomes unable to send and receive messages, and muscle coordination, bodily sensations, and vision are affected.
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