Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction (part 2)

Question 1

state what it is meant by the key term - ‘exercise associated muscle cramps’

Answer 1

painful, spasmodic and involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle that occurs during or immediately after exercise (occurs in the working muscle groups)

Question 2

state the names of the two hypothesis of ‘exercise associated muscle cramps’

Answer 2

1. electrolyte depletion and dehydration

2. altered neuromuscular control

Question 3

state two facts about the ‘electrolyte depletion and dehydration’ hypothesis of ‘exercise associated muscle cramps’

Answer 3

1. changes in Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ concentrations within the cell
2. no prospective studies to support this theory

Question 4

state two facts about the ‘altered neuromuscular function’ hypothesis of ‘exercise associated muscle cramps’

Answer 4

1. altered reflex control due to fatigue

2. excitatory input overwhelms inhibitory input

Question 5

what can be done to treat ‘exercise associated muscle cramps’?

Answer 5

can be relieved by passive stretching and massage

Question 6

state what it is meant by the key term - delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS)

Answer 6

micro damage to muscle which results in minor inflammation and pain, but is normal and important for muscle adaptation

Question 7

state 3 facts about ‘DOMS”

Answer 7

1. occurs as a result of overload to muscle
2. particularly due to eccentric exercise
3. results in up-regulation of protein synthesis

Question 8

what is the controversy around ‘DOMS’ within the scientific literature?

Answer 8

continued debate to whether or not DOMS is facilitative to muscular growth

Question 9

state what it is meant by the key term - ‘muscular dystrophy’

Answer 9

muscular wasting, weakening and breakdown over time

Question 10

what is ‘muscular dystrophy’?

Answer 10

a genetic condition caused by a mutation in the gene for the protein Dystrophin on the X chromosome

Question 11

explain how ‘muscular dystrophy’ works (3 points)

Answer 11

1. Dystrophin important for linking myofibrils to the sarcolemma
2. lack of dystrophin results in muscle fibre disorganisation and death
3. affects muscles of the pelvis and lower limb, then progresses to the upper limb and respiratory muscles

Question 12

what, in essence, does ‘muscular dystrophy’ lead to?

Answer 12

premature death

Question 13

state the names of 5 types of neuromuscular of CNS disorders

Answer 13

1. toxins (eg - botulinum toxin)
2. autoimmune conditions (eg - myasthenia gravis)
3. multiple sclerosis
4. cerebral palsy
5. motor neurone disease

Question 14

state what it is meant by the key term - Botulinum toxin

Answer 14

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein that prevents the release of the acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction, thus causing flaccid paralysis. The toxin causes the disease botulism

Question 15

state what it is meant by the key term - toxin

Answer 15

Biological toxins are hazardous substances produced by microorganisms, animals, insects, and plants that can be harmful when inhaled, ingested, injected, or absorbed

Question 16

state what it is meant by the key term - autoimmune conditions

Answer 16

An autoimmune disease is an illness that causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack normal body tissues. Autoimmune is when your body attacks itself. It sees a part of your body or a process as a disease and tries to combat it

Question 17

state what it is meant by the key term - myasthenia gravis

Answer 17

a chronic autoimmune, neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles that worsens after periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. These muscles are responsible for functions involving breathing and moving parts of the body, including the arms and legs

Question 18

state what it is meant by the key term - multiple sclerosis

Answer 18

a chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, whose symptoms may include numbness, impairment of speech and of muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue

Question 19

state what it is meant by the key term - cerebral palsy

Answer 19

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles

Question 20

state what it is meant by the key term - motor neurone disease

Answer 20

Motor neurone disease is an uncommon condition affecting the brain and nerves. Motor neurone disease happens when cells in the brain and nerves (motor neurones) gradually stop working. It’s not known why this happens.