Discussion

The discussion will focus on disorders that affect single or groups of skeletal muscles. For instance, individuals who suffer from polio can develop muscle weakness and atrophy and some individuals may die due to respiratory paralysis. Relate how muscle fibers function in the symptoms exhibited by infected patients. (i.e. is the muscle weakened because the receptors for the motor neuron is blocked; is the neurotransmitter blocked from being released?etc.) Each student should select 2 of the following disorders: polio, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, botulism (or cosmetic BOTOX injections), myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, myositis, or mitochondrial myopathies.