muscular diseases lec 7

What is lacking in muscular

dystrophy?

The protein, dystrophin, which causes muscles

to harden.

What types of patients get muscle

contractures?

paralysis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy

What are causes muscle contractures?

They are caused by elastic fibers becoming

inelastic fibers, and flexibility is reduced.

What is the most common cause of

Hyporeflexia?

Lower motor neuron disease

Does alcohol cause muscle fasciculations?

NO, it relaxes muscle

What generally causes muscle fasciculations?

Diarrhea

 Dehydration

 Fatigue

 Benadryl

What is the most common cause of

hyper-reflexia?

Spinal cord injury involving upper motor

neurons

How can you test for the difference

between an upper and lower motor

neuron disorder?

LMN disease will present with flaccidly

(hypotonia), and UMN disease presents with

spasticity (hypertonia)

The presence of clonus indicates what

type of disorder?

Upper motor neuron disorder (Cerebral palsy,

spinal cord injury, and stroke)

How do you test for clonus?

rapidly dorsiflexing the foot. If the foot then

jerks 5 times or more, clonus is present.

What other three disorders often

present with spasticity?

Cerebral palsy, certain spinal cord injuries

and lesions, and stroke (upper motor neuron

disorders)

What autoimmune disorder often

presents with spasticity?

Multiple sclerosis

How do you test for the presence of

spasticity?

Passively move their elbow quickly, and their

muscle will tighten up

What is hypertonia?

Excess muscle tone

What two types of

HYPERtonia are there?

 Spasticity and Rigidity

What group of disorders often present

with HYPOtonia?

Lower motor neuron diseases (certain spinal

cord injuries and lesions, ALS/Lou Gehrig’s

Disease)

What is HYPOtonia?

Not enough muscle tone

type of hypotonia

 Flaccidity

Name 4 physiological benefits of

exercise:

improved muscular strength, endurance,

flexibility

 improved cardio-respiratory endurance

 increased bone density and strength

 relief from depression and increased HDLs

What is OXYGEN DEBT?

The amount of oxygen needed to replenish the

supply following anaerobic demand

How do you know when you have OXYGEN DEBT?

you continue to breathe heavily after exercising

What are MUSCLE SPASMS

Sudden and involuntary muscle contractions.

Usually caused from overexertion. Needs

heat and massage to increase circulation.

How can you avoid MUSCLE SPASMS?

stretching before and after activities.

What is MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

caused from?

This is a genetic lack of a protein called

DISTROPHIN

What is the main symptom of MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY?

The muscle cell won’t contract = paralysis.

characteristics of muscle atrophy

a) causes:

• lack of use

• damaged nerve and immobilization in a cast

b) myofilaments get smaller

c) severe atrophy involves replacing muscle

fibers with connective tissue

you usually DONT lose muscle cells

What happens to muscles after lack of

use

ATROPHY.