what is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of rare inherited muscle diseases in which muscle fibers are unusually susceptible to damage. Muscles, primarily voluntary muscles, become progressively weaker. In the late stages of muscular dystrophy, fat and connective tissue are often replaced by muscle fibers. In some types of muscular dystrophy, heart muscles, other involuntary muscles and other organs are affected. The most common types of muscular dystrophy appear to be due to a genetic deficiency of the muscle protein dystrophin. There's no cure for muscular dystrophy, but medications and therapy can slow the course of the disease

muscle system glossary

Actin: A protien that forms a long polymer rods called microfilaments; Interacts with myosin to cause movement in muscles.

ATP "Adenosine Triphosphate" is a nucleotide that comes from adenosine that takes place in muscle tissue: This provides a large source of energy for cellular reactions.

Cardiac muscle is also an "involuntary muscle" but it's a specialized kind of muscle found only within the heart.

Clostridium botulinum A pathogen that causes botulism, gram stain positive, morphology is rod shaped, grows in anaerobic
conditions, and produces spores.

Clostridium tetani A pathogen that causes lock jaw, gram stain positive, morphology is tennis racket shaped rod, grows in anaerobic conditions, and produces spores.

Cori cycle In anaerobic conditions produces lactic acid.

Cramp A localized muscle spasm that happens after strenuous activity.

Glycogen Glucose that has been converted for energy storage. Muscles store energy for their own use in this form.

Lactic acid Causes muscle fatigue.

Muscle Contractile tissue that is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells.

Muscular DystrophyA hereditary disease characterized by progressive atrophy of muscle fibers Myosin The fibrous motor protein that uses ATP to drive movements along actin filaments.

Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Smooth-surfaced tubules forming a plexus around each myofibril that function as a storage and release area for calcium ions (CA+2). Skeletal muscle this "voluntary muscle" is anchored by tendons to the bone and is used to affect skeletal movement such as locomotion.

Smooth muscle this "involuntary muscle" is found within the walls of organs and structures such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, bronchi, uterus, ureters, bladder, and blood vessels.

Sprain Injuries that involves a stretched or torn ligament. Strain A injury to the muscle or tendon attachment