Physiology in Clinical Neurosciences – Brain and Spinal Cord Crosstalks

Central nervous system that includes brain and spinal cord has high metabolic demand. The physiology of the brain is such that it is easily affected by any altered physiology of other systems which in turn may compromise cerebral blood flow and oxygenation. Together the brain and spinal cord control our body systems to function automatically. While other systems of body controls individual functions, central nervous system at the same time does many different functions, especially, controlling the function of other systems. However, only little is known that central nervous system itself affects almost all the other systems of the body for example, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, hematological etc. This interaction of brain and spinal cord with other systems makes it important for us to understand how any kind of injury to the central nervous system may at times, produce complications in remote organs or systems of the body. It is these lesser known crosstalks between acutely or chronically affected brain and spinal cord and other systems of the body that is discussed in this book series. Each system would be considered in a separate book.