The central nervous system is very delicate, and so the body has taken precautions to protect it; it is encased within the spinal column, which consists of hard vertebrae that help to defend it from injury. The spinal cord itself is comprised of nerves that carry the messages from the brain to other parts of the body. If the spinal cord itself is impacted, this information channel can be disrupted, resulting in partial or complete paralysis. This damage is permanent, as the spinal cord and the central nervous system are not capable of self-repair after an injury, and scientists have not yet found a cure for spinal cord injuries.