Musculoskeletal Abnormalities p197-213

Question 1

Muscle weakness can result from either a primary neuromuscular disease or disorder that affects muscle secondarily. Match the broad subdivisions of neuromuscular diseases with their description.

Neuropathies, junctionopathies, myopathies, neuromyopathies

A) Disorders of the neuromuscular junction
B) Disorders of both the neurons and the muscle fibers
C) Disorders of the neuron, its cell body, axon and/or Schwann cells
D) Disorders of muscle fibers

Answer 1

Neuropathies C) Disorders of the neuron, its cell body, axon and/or Schwann cells

Junctionopathies A) Disorders of the neuromuscular junction

Myopathies D) Disorders of muscle fibers

Neuromyopathies B) Disorders of both the neurons and the muscle fibers

Question 2

What differentiates muscle spasms from myoclonus?

Answer 2

Muscle spasms are sudden, transient and involuntary contractions of a single muscle or group of muscles, attended by pain and loss of function.

Myoclonus is defined as a disturbance of neuromuscular activity characterized by abrupt, brief, rapid, jerky arrhythmic asynergic, involuntary contractions involving portions of muscles, entire muscles or groups of muscles, regardless of their functional association.