The plan for any movement originates in the brain. The major part of the brain involved in the initiation and control of voluntary movement is the primary motor cortex. Motor neurons in the brain are called upper motor neurons (UMNs), whereas motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord are called lower motor neurons (LMNs). UMNs are unable to leave the CNS; therefore they must synapse with LMNs whose axons can leave the CNS, which allows them to synapse with muscles throughout the body. Thus, in a normal situation, messages from UMNs are transferred to LMNs, and from there are transferred to specific muscles. UMNs and LMNs are responsible for movements such as walking and chewing, and movement of the arms, legs, chest, and face, respectively. This permits healthy individuals the ability to voluntarily move their muscles with ease. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is also referred to as a motor neuron disorder (MND), as it is characterized by the continual degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. These motor neurons, as previously stated, are responsible for voluntary muscles in the body, and as the neurons degenerate, or die, the neurons are unable to send messages to the muscles. When muscles can no longer receive signals, they become unable to function, and in turn, weaken and waste away. Eventually, the brain loses its ability to start and control voluntary movement, resulting in paralysis. Since ALS only affects the voluntary motor neurons, the senses (seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing, and tactile sensations) are spared. The involuntary motor neurons are also not affected (for example, the heart and digestive system). Additionally, the individual is often not affected cognitively. ... ... middle of paper ... ...icles Mitchell, J. D. and G. D. Borasio. 2007. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Seminar. 369: 2031- 2041. Roth-Kauffman, M., and J. Niebauer. 2012. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Diagnostic and appropriate management. Clinician Reviews. 22(7): 15-21 Rowland, L. P., and N. A. Shneider. 2001. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. New England Journal of Medicine. 344(22): 1688-1700. Wijesekera, L. C. and P. N. Leigh. 2009. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 4(3): doi:10.1186/1750-1172-4-3. Webpages ALS Association. About ALS. http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html. Updated 2010. Accessed March 13, 2014. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NINDS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Information Page. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/ALS.htm. Updated February 4, 2014. Accessed March 13, 2013.
Medicine.yale.edu. (2014). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als) > neurology | yale school of medicine. [online] Retrieved from: http://medicine.yale.edu/neurology/divisions/neuromuscular/als.aspx [Accessed: 9 Jan 2014].
There is no cure for ALS at this time and treatment is focused on management of the symptoms, involving a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech, respiratory, and nutritional therapies. Moderate exercise may help maintain muscle strength and function. Drugs can also treat excessive saliva and drooling, and speech therapy can help compensate for loss of muscular control of the mouth. As the disease progresses and muscular degeneration spreads throughout the body, various devices may provide support, such as ankle braces, neck collars, reclining chairs, wheelchairs, and hospital beds. Respiratory support and feeding tubes are required when the person loses cont...
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, 1997. Tabular list of neurological and related disorders. In: WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, ed. Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Neurology. Canada: World Health Organisation, p. 153.
Neurodegeneration is used mainly for diseases that are characterised by progressive loss of structure and function of neurons. There are many neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that...
According to ALS Association (2016, para. 1), “Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis eventually leads to their demise.” When our motor neurons die, our brain can no longer control our muscle movement. The survival time for a person living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is up to ten years because eventually a person’s body will shut down completely. According to the Mayo Clinic (2016, para. 2), “As the disease advances and nerve cells are destroyed, your muscles progressively weaken. This eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing.” This disease is very scary to live with because you eventually die from
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS, is a disease that can alter the daily life of a human in monumental and unending ways. In one of her articles about ALS, Caroline Ingre (2015) states that the disease is a “fatal neurodegenerative disorder” and further supports this by noting how the disease is marked by the degeneration in motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord (p. 181). This basically means that
ALS is a degeneration of motor neurons that move from the brain and down the
In order for a body to move, a muscle has to be activated by an electrical impulse. The electrical impulse sends a message to the parietal lobe, frontal lobe, and cerebellum. The message then works its way through the spinal cord next to nerve pathways to the muscles which activate movement. Kinesthetic arts to stimulate motor activity. Motor activity is followed by swift thought processes that set goals, predict outcomes, analyze variables and complete movements.
The Pyramidal System controls the voluntary motor movement and is especially crucial in fine motor control. Spastic (hypertonic) cerebral palsy, the most common form cerebral palsy and is characterized by increased muscle tone that interferes with voluntary movement and fine motor movement, such as movement of the hand or fingers. The most common types of topographical types are diplegia, hemiplegia, double hemiplegia, and quadriplegia.
In this essay, the disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS) will be reviewed. This piece of work will lay emphasis on the pathophysiological, psychosocial, economic and cognitive effects it has on the individual, family and society. It will also make mention of how a professional nurse would support the individual, the family/carer, the nursing process and the professional role of the nurse according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of conduct which sets a standard for all nurses and midwives (NMC, 2008) . It has been chosen because this chronic disorder is quite prevalent in the UK.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a degenerative disease affecting the human nervous system. It is a deadly disease that cripples and kills its victims due to a breakdown in the body’s motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells in the brainstem and spinal cord that control muscle contractions. In ALS, these neurons deteriorate to a point that all movement, including breathing, halts. Muscle weakness first develops in the muscles of body parts distant from the brain, such as the hands, and subsequently spreads through other muscle groups closer to the brain. Such early symptoms as this, however, can hardly be noticed.
With motor neurone disease it attacks the nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting. In the case study the
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL), Lou Gehrig’s disease, a brutal, unforgiving illness of the neurological system with no known cure.
Manto, M., Bower, J.M., Conforto, A.B., Delgado-Garcia, J.M., da Guarda, S.N., Gerwig, M., Habas, C., Hagura N., Ivry, R.B., Mariën, P., Molinari, M., Nairo, E., Nowak D.A., Oulad, B.T., Pelisson, D, Tesche, C.D., Tilikete, C., & Timman, D. (2012). Consensus Paper: Roles of the Cerebellum in Motor Control – The Diversity of Ideas on Cerebellar Involvement in Movement. Cerebellum, 11, 457-487.
This is a neurodegenerative disease, meaning it results in progressive loss or death of neurons. It often starts off with effecting simple motor skills like writing and holding things, after a few months usually patients start losing the ability to walk, talk, or move any of their limbs. Although the brain trauma is what causes it, ALS has little-no-effect on the brain. This fatal disease is typically diagnosed around age 60 and most patients are given about 3-5 years to live after being diagnosed. It has been found that 10% of cases are shown as genetic. It was brought to attention that athletes were beginning to get diagnosed with ALS at a younger age than most. After extensive research in the early 2000’s, Brain Analyst, Dr. Mckee ran tests and finally came to the conclusion that the toxic proteins in the brains of ALS patients were coming from repeated blows to the head. It was then made evident why so many athletes in contact sports such as football, soccer, boxing, etc… were being diagnosed at such a young age and more frequently than