| Actin |
A filamentous protein that is a key component of the framework of the cell. |
| Allodynia |
A disorder in which sensations that normally do not hurt become painful. |
| Analgesic |
A class of drugs that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness. |
| Apoptosis |
Programmed cell death, or cell suicide, which is part of the natural life cycle of a cell. Apoptosis can be triggered by age, injury, or unknown factors. When the cell senses that it's not healthy, it goes through a series of changes, finally chopping its DNA and proteins into small packets that are cleaned up by microglia. |
| Astrocytes |
Cells that nourish and support spinal neurons. |
| Autonomic dysreflexia |
A potentially fatal complication of spinal cord injuries that involves episodes of extreme hypertension and sometimes leads to intracranial hemorrhage or stroke. It occurs in 90% of people with cervical or high thoracic cord injuries. |
| Axon |
The long tail of a neuron that transmits electrical impulses from the cell body. |
| Axonal Transport |
The mechanism that enables neurons to send proteins and chemical messages back and forth along axons. |
| Catecholamines |
Chemicals produced by organs that are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. These substances are involved in the fight-or-flight response to stress. |
| Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs) |
Proteins that adhere to the surface of an elogating axon and direct it to its final address in the brain or spinal cord. |
| Central Nervous System |
The brain and spinal cord. |
| Central Pattern Generator (CPG) |
A network of spinal neurons that, when stimulated by neurotransmitters, cause the muscles of the legs to move in rhythmic stepping motions. |
| Cervical |
The high-level nervous structure of the spinal cord responsible for controlling the neck muscles, diaphragm, shoulders, wrists, triceps and fingers. |
| Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans |
Molecules that are a major component of the scar that forms at the site of a spinal cord injury and inhibit axon regeneration. They may act on their own or, because of their large size and negative charge, may attract other growth inhibitors to the lesion - or both. |
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