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Related Concept Videos

Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle01:28

Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle

The clinical conditions affecting the skeletal muscle tissue are broadly categorized as musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests01:15

Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune condition affecting neuromuscular transmission, causing generalized weakness in skeletal muscles. Initial diagnoses rely on patients' signs, symptoms, and medical history. The challenge lies in distinguishing myasthenia from other muscular dystrophies. An important diagnostic feature is the significant improvement of symptoms after administering anticholinesterase inhibitors.
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment01:20

Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission disorder characterized by weakness and increased fatigability of skeletal muscles. It is an autoimmune disease affecting approximately one in 2000 people, where antibodies against the α1 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are produced.
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which leads...
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients
09:44

Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients

Published on: April 12, 2011

Intensive-care-unit-acquired muscle weakness.

Steven Deem1

  • 1Anesthesiology Department, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. sdeem@u.washington.edu

Respiratory Care
|August 29, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Critically ill patients often develop neuromuscular weakness in the intensive care unit (ICU). Intensive insulin therapy is the only proven method to reduce the incidence of these debilitating ICU-acquired neuromuscular abnormalities.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Research

Background:

  • Critically ill patients frequently experience neuromuscular abnormalities leading to skeletal-muscle weakness.
  • These ICU-acquired conditions are often categorized as polyneuropathy or myopathy, though they frequently coexist, with myopathy being the primary cause of weakness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of ICU-acquired neuromuscular abnormalities.
  • To identify risk factors, pathogenesis, outcomes, and potential interventions for these conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on ICU-acquired neuromuscular disorders.
  • Analysis of risk factors, clinical presentation, and patient outcomes.

More Related Videos

A Preclinical Model of Sepsis-Induced Myopathy with Disuse in Mice
04:01

A Preclinical Model of Sepsis-Induced Myopathy with Disuse in Mice

Published on: June 14, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients
09:44

Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients

Published on: April 12, 2011

A Preclinical Model of Sepsis-Induced Myopathy with Disuse in Mice
04:01

A Preclinical Model of Sepsis-Induced Myopathy with Disuse in Mice

Published on: June 14, 2024

Main Results:

  • Major risk factors include sepsis, corticosteroid use, and hyperglycemia.
  • Pathogenesis likely involves inflammatory nerve/muscle injury, potentiated by denervation and corticosteroids.
  • Associated outcomes include increased mortality, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and extended hospital stays.

Conclusions:

  • ICU-acquired neuromuscular abnormalities are common and linked to poor outcomes.
  • Intensive insulin therapy is the sole intervention demonstrated to reduce incidence.
  • Further research is needed for better classification, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.