Where did the name come from?
Where Does the Name Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Come From?
It has a greek origin.
What Does This All Mean?
It has a greek origin.
- A=without
- Myo=muscles
- Trophic= nourishment
- Lateral=side of
- Sclerosis=scarring
What Does This All Mean?
- Amyotrophic means their is no muscle nourishment.
- When the muscles don't receive nourishment they atrophy, which means they begin to waste away or degenerate. Atrophy of the muscles also occurs when an individual has an arm or leg immobilized. The under use of the muscle causes the muscles to degenerate leaving your muscles weaker.
- When the muscles don't receive nourishment they atrophy, which means they begin to waste away or degenerate. Atrophy of the muscles also occurs when an individual has an arm or leg immobilized. The under use of the muscle causes the muscles to degenerate leaving your muscles weaker.
- Lateral is referring to the location of the disease, in this case the side of the spine.
- The neurons that signal and control the muscles are on the side of the spine.
- Sclerosis refers to the scarring you see along the diseased part of the affected muscles
- When the muscle begins to degenerate, it leaves scar tissue