wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

Name an inheritable disease that gradually causes muscles to weaken?


Open in App
Solution

Muscular Dystrophy:

  1. A muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic disorders which leads to degeneration and weakening of skeletal muscles.
  2. Causes: Muscular dystrophies are mainly inherited diseases.
  3. However different inheritance patterns are usually followed by different types of muscular dystrophies.
  4. The most common cause of the disease is a mutation in the dystrophin gene & nutritional defects at the prenatal stage.
  5. The defects in this gene also result in the formation of non-functional dystrophin protein found in the muscle fiber membrane.
  6. This protein is also essential for the mechanical stabilization of muscle fiber & regulation of calcium levels necessary for the function of muscles. This, results in progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass.

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Disorders of the Skeletal System
BIOLOGY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon