Muscular atrophy

Muscular Atrophy

Muscular atrophy (pronunciation: muhs-kyuh-luhr at-ruh-fee) is a medical condition characterized by the decrease in muscle mass and strength.

Etymology

The term "muscular atrophy" is derived from the Greek words "mus" meaning "mouse", "kulos" meaning "hollow", and "atrophia" meaning "nourishment". This term was used to describe the condition where muscles appear to have been 'eaten away' or 'hollowed out'.

Definition

Muscular atrophy is a type of muscle weakness that involves the loss of muscle tissues. This condition can be caused by various factors such as aging, malnutrition, certain diseases, and lack of physical activity.

Types

There are two main types of muscular atrophy: disuse atrophy and neurogenic atrophy. Disuse atrophy occurs when a muscle is not used for a long period, while neurogenic atrophy is caused by a problem with the nerves that connect to the muscle.

Symptoms

Symptoms of muscular atrophy include muscle weakness, limited movement in the affected muscles, and eventually loss of muscle mass.

Causes

Muscular atrophy can be caused by a variety of factors including aging, malnutrition, certain diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and muscular dystrophy, and lack of physical activity.

Treatment

Treatment for muscular atrophy depends on the underlying cause. It may include physical therapy, nutritional therapy, and in some cases, surgery. Medications such as riluzole and edaravone may be used to treat ALS, a disease that can cause muscular atrophy.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Muscular atrophy
Wikipedia's article - Muscular atrophy

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Muscular atrophy