Muscular Dystrophies Research Paper

Muscular dystrophies (MD) are diseases that causes muscle mass loss and weakness (this is normally in children but can happen in adults). This is caused by abnormalities in genes that interfere with proper production of protein to form healthy muscles for voluntary movement. When the brain sends signals to a muscle to contract, it goes through the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to the neuromuscular junction, releasing the chemical acetylcholine that triggers muscle contraction. From here, transportation of the chemicals produced from the reaction of acetylcholine go through muscle fiber membrane and the muscle contracts or relaxes. This membrane has a group of proteins called dytrophin-glycoprotien complex that protects the muscle fiber …show more content…
Eventually, this leads the muscle fibers to die leading to muscle degeneration. It also causes the muscle fibers to split, branch off, and be destroyed by scavenger cells. MD also causes overall muscle strength and tendon reflexes are lost because connective tissue and fat has replaced the muscle. MD also can cause cardiomyopathy and respiratory problems which can lead to death. Because there are a few different types of MD, only doctors can provide what type of MD it is and how severe the progression of muscle degeneration is. In some cases it is chronic, but should not lead to death. Others can lead to death in childhood or young adult years. Psychologically, it can be hard to handle because there is no guarantee treatment that will cure MD and it is hard for the person who has it and their family to deal with it. The best option is to find ways that can slow the progression of the disease and cherish the time given with that person. If a person has MD, make sure they keep a healthy lifestyle and try to stay active while being …show more content…
When she hit a tree stump and fell on her outstretched hand, she knew she broke something in her shoulder and arm. Jennifer most likely broke her clavicle, acromion, and possibly her coracoid process in the shoulder girdle. She also could have broken her humerus, radius, ulna, and possibly her carpal bones in her hand. Jennifer also could have damaged her deltoid, trapezoid, biceps, triceps, brachioradialis and a few other muscles in the arms and shoulder. Depending on how hard she fell and what angle she fell at, she will need to have a cast for at least six weeks. However with obtaining a cast, the bones would have to have broken cleanly and are still in alignment with how it should properly sit. If not then surgical procedures need to take place. If she does surgical treatment, she will have either pins or plates and screws put in to fix the broken bones regardless of where it is. She will also undergo physical therapy treatment and pain medications as well. Physical therapy will help her muscles too. If she tore her ligaments then she may have to do surgery to correct it. If she tore her muscles she will need to let them heal and rest. Recovery time over all would be at least two months or eight weeks, possibly more on doctor’s orders. It will be up to her doctor for treatment plans and healing programs based off of x-rays and how well Jennifer