I will not try to be medically precise - for I wish you - the lay reader to have a chance to understand these concepts and terms. The body and the nervous system in particular are structured in a very logical manner. Once given an overview of the architecture of the anatomy of the human nervous system - you will have a reasonable understanding of the diseases and conditions that can affect this structure.
Along with the nervous system (PNS in this case), we must consider the vascular and microvascular system (the blood vessels, veins, arteries, and capillaries). For these conduits are the means by which nutrients and other substances are delivered to the tissue of all major body parts, as well as to the nerves.
Hopefully - you will derive some pleasure and understanding from that which is to follow.
The Nervous Systems and their Functions
There are several different and distinct nervous systems. But - all function together in a complementary fashion - for the body may be considered to be a complex system comprised of several different and distinct subsystems. I shall not belabor these details but will present enough insight to enable your understanding of these nervous systems and what happens to them when a neuropathy results from one of the many causes that abound.
Some questions that may result from this explanation are:
- Just what is a nerve?
We all know that nerve disease per se, results from damage to a nerve. But - there are many nerves in the body. We damage little nerves in the fingers and toes every day. Some are bruised, some are cut, and some are abraded. In many cases, some feeling in a finger may be lost as a result of damage to some of the little nerves that are present.
In a few rare cases, this damage produces a neuropathy. But in the main - there is no resulting neuropathic disease. So what do we mean when we say that one of the major etiologies for neuropathies in general - is damage to a nerve.
Well - there are little nerves (as described above) and there are major nerves, which are bundles of little nerves all bound together in a larger "trunk" of nerves. There are nerves that report stimulus to the brain. These are called afferent nerves. There are some nerves that transmit signals from the brain to the peripheral tissues, and muscles. These are called efferent nerves.
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