Structure and Function of the Nervous System

Normal Flora - none

The most common route of infection is the blood, although microorganisms can enter the CNS by trauma, along peripheral nerves, and also through the lymphatic system.

The blood-brain barrier makes treatment more difficult because it prevents many substances, including antibiotics, from entering.

Terminology:

• Meningitis – infection of the meninges
• Encephalitis – infection of the brain
• Myelitis – infection of the spinal cord

The Human Nervous System