Glossary - N to O

Cells that carry messages, in the form of electrical impulses, to and from the brain at high speed. For example, some nerves pass sensory information such as sight or touch to the brain; others carry instructions from the brain to the muscles.

The system in the body that receives and processes information about the environment and controls the body’s responses and activity. It includes the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.

A doctor who specialises in disorders of the nervous system.

The progressive destruction and loss of function of a part of the nervous system.

Relating to, or affecting, both nerves and muscles.

Another name for nerve cells.

Protein components of a neurone's internal skeleton that maintain the shape and structure of the cell. They are particularly important in large cells like nerves but their assembly and function may be disrupted in MND.

Describes something that provides protection to a part of the nervous system.

Describes a substance that is damaging to a part of the nervous system.

A chemical that carries a signal across the gap between one nerve cell and the next.

A substance that nourishes nerves and helps to keep them healthy.

A gene that holds the instructions to make a component of the cell’s internal skeleton. Variations in this gene have been suggested to be a risk factor for sporadic MND.

Can be used to alleviate symptoms of breathlessness when the respiratory muscles become weak. For more details, read our information sheet on ventilation .

The "control centre" compartment of a cell that contains all of the cell's genetic information.

A situation in which there is an excess of damaging free radical molecules in a cell. Oxidative damage may contribute to motor neurone degeneration in MND.