Essay on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Case Study
Normal Anatomy and Physiology of Motor Function
The two components of the central nervous system (CNS) are the brain and the spinal cord.
Communication between the brain and the spinal cord happens through motor neurons, which are
nerve cells that enable motor movement. Each motor neuron is made up of a cell body, which
holds all the cell components, dendrites which send information it receives to the cell body, and an
axon which sends nerve impulses to the muscle (Porth Matfin, 2009). As electrical impulses are
sent through the motor neuron, it stimulates the muscle fibers in the body to move. This is the
process in which motor function happens. Therefore, the basic abilities to breathe, speak, swallow,
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The manifestations of ALS are caused by the location of motor neuron death. When upper motor
neurons die, the symptoms include problems controlling fine movements, spasms, dysphagia,
dysphonia and dysarthria (Porth Matfin, 2009). Manifestations of lower motor neuron destruction
include fasciculations, weakness, muscle atrophy, and hyporeflexia (Porth Matfin, 2009, p. 1284).
Patients with early signs of ALS usually complain of feeling weak on one side, which is due to
the slowing of electrical impulses to that group of muscles (Ignatavicius Workman, 2010). Since
the impulses are slowed, they are not receiving adequate electrical stimulation to move and the
person feels weak. As the disease progresses, all the motor neurons die and are not regenerated so,
the patient is left paralyzed, losing the ability to speak, swallow and breathe (Ignatavicius
Workman, 2010).
A distinctive characteristic of ALS is that although the motor neurons die, the brain, cognitive
functions and sensory neurons stay intact (Porth Matfin, 2009). This makes the disease especially
devastating because patients become trapped inside their dying body, with a fully alert mind, but
are unable to move. It is not known what causes the exact death of the motor neurons in the body,
but five percent to 10% of cases are familial; the others are believed to be sporadic (Porth Matfin,
2009, p.
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