We have talked about neurons and glial cells; did I mention that they have heads and long limbs? Okay, so any cell in the brain or the spinal cord has this basic structure. They have a head, long/short-coated/uncoated limb/s, and many digits. Easy right? You already know that there are numerous employees and interns or neurons and glial cells in the brain, the same goes for the spinal cord. Now, these heads or nuclei are situated in the Gray matter and limbs or the nerve fibers as we call it make the white matter. Well well well….the world might not be all black and white but your B and Sc surely are! What do I mean by gray and white matter? Look at the diagram, all the employees and interns have their heads cramped at the edges and few in the middle of the brain, whereas, this beautiful butterfly shaped spinal cord has employees' heads in the center and limbs at the edge. The function of the head is universal i.e to coordinate actions, produce supplies and keep a tab on overall wellbeing. Why limbs then? These limbs or nerve fibers are the carriers….they reach places and carry signals….motor fibers will carry motor signals and sensory fibers will carry sensory signals. It’s pretty neat when you think of it. Millions of motor and sensory input-output circuits are functioning throughout the day but no short circuit, no signal mismatch, no casualties occur often unless under special circumstances. That is the reason one should study and analyse our own body, it is just too architectural yet miraculous!
Apart from gray and white matter, few other similarities between B and SC are, hard-bony protective outer covering, cushioning of meninges (are you curious about this word? Do you want to know more?), and fluid balance. Fluids meaning, blood both oxygenated and deoxygenated, and a secret potion that looks like water. Listen carefully peeps, this magical potion is surrounded the brain and spinal cord, it’s within too….remember I said that the brain is floating…it’s floating in this magic potion…Known as CSF or Cerebro-Spinal-Fluid!
I have given you a lot to think about by leaving many ropes open…we will see those ropes tied up in upcoming blogs but it will be great if you have questions. After all, “Nothing Really Matters” except for Gray and White Matter!
Amazing read!!