Healthy neurons and nerve damage in multiple sclerosis - Illustrations

Healthy neurons and nerve damage in multiple sclerosis. Illustration of damage (inset, right) to nerve cells caused by the degenerative disease multiple sclerosis. Healthy neurons are shown at left. Immune system cells (microglia, red) have attacked the nerve cell sheaths (myelin), resulting in damaged myelin and disturbed signalling function between the nerves cells (neurons, blue). Multiple sclerosis is a progressive disorder that can cause tingling, speech disorders, lack of coordination, paralysis and death. The microglia cells attack the oligodendrocytes that form the insulating myelin sheath around neuron axons, leading to the destruction of the myelin sheath.