Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll01:11

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll

Rigidity and myotonia are distinct abnormalities of muscle tone that affect resistance and relaxation during movement. Although both involve altered muscle contraction, they arise from different neurological and muscular mechanisms.CharacteristicsRigidity is characterized by uniform resistance to passive movement across the entire range, independent of speed, affecting flexors and extensors equally. It may appear as lead-pipe rigidity (smooth, constant resistance) or cogwheel rigidity...
Alterations in Muscle Tone ll01:12

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll

Alterations in muscle tone are common manifestations of neurological disorders and reflect dysfunction within different nervous system regions. Spasticity, paratonia, and dystonia represent distinct forms of hypertonia, each with unique mechanisms, clinical features, and diagnostic importance.CharacteristicsSpasticity happens from upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. Clinical features include:Exaggerated deep tendon reflexesClonus...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology01:20

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) pathophysiology is intricate and multifaceted, involving a complex interplay of physiological processes. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for effectively managing and treating COPD. Here is an in-depth look at the critical elements in the pathophysiology of COPD:
Chronic Inflammation
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features01:20

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD is defined as a heterogeneous lung condition marked by persistent respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and sputum production, caused by abnormalities in the airways that cause airflow obstruction.
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

How artificial intelligence could improve the diagnosis and management of COPD: a perspective from GOLD.

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine·2026
Same author

Disease modification and progression in pre-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an official American Thoracic Society workshop report.

Annals of the American Thoracic Society·2026
Same author

The global burden of COPD: epidemiology and effect of prevention strategies.

The Lancet. Respiratory medicine·2025
Same author

Climate Change and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A GOLD Science Committee Review.

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine·2025
Same author

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Mild, Young and Early COPD: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 5468 Patients.

Journal of clinical medicine·2024
Same author

GOLD Science Committee recommendations for the use of pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry for the diagnosis of COPD.

The European respiratory journal·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
07:10

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: August 24, 2019

Peripheral muscle alterations in non-COPD smokers.

Maria Montes de Oca1, Eduardo Loeb, Sonia H Torres

  • 1Pulmonary Division, Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, Venezuela. mmdeoca@cantv.net

Chest
|January 12, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Smoking damages skeletal muscle, causing oxidative fiber atrophy and reduced nitric oxide (NO) production. This study reveals metabolic changes and impaired NO generation in smokers, highlighting potential harm beyond the lungs.

More Related Videos

Repeated Measurement of Respiratory Muscle Activity and Ventilation in Mouse Models of Neuromuscular Disease
09:24

Repeated Measurement of Respiratory Muscle Activity and Ventilation in Mouse Models of Neuromuscular Disease

Published on: April 17, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
07:10

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: August 24, 2019

Repeated Measurement of Respiratory Muscle Activity and Ventilation in Mouse Models of Neuromuscular Disease
09:24

Repeated Measurement of Respiratory Muscle Activity and Ventilation in Mouse Models of Neuromuscular Disease

Published on: April 17, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Muscle physiology
  • Tobacco-induced pathology
  • Nitric oxide signaling

Background:

  • Tobacco smoke is a primary cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
  • The impact of smoking on skeletal muscle health remains under-investigated.
  • This study focuses on the detrimental effects of smoking on skeletal muscle structure and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of smoking on skeletal muscle in non-COPD smokers.
  • To analyze muscular structure, enzyme activity, and nitric oxide (NO) pathways.
  • To assess markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in smokers' skeletal muscle.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of vastus lateralis muscle from 14 non-COPD smokers and 20 healthy controls.
  • Measurement of muscle fiber cross-sectional area and type distribution.
  • Assay of enzyme activities, nitric oxide synthases (eNOS, nNOS, iNOS), nitrites, nitrates, nitrotyrosine, and macrophage presence.

Main Results:

  • Smokers exhibited decreased cross-sectional area in type I and IIa muscle fibers.
  • Increased lactate dehydrogenase levels and a higher proportion of glycolytic fibers were observed in smokers.
  • Reduced expression of constitutive nitric oxide synthases (nNOS and eNOS) was found in smokers' muscle tissue.

Conclusions:

  • Smokers display skeletal muscle alterations including oxidative fiber atrophy and increased glycolytic capacity.
  • The study supports evidence of muscular structural and metabolic damage due to smoking.
  • Findings suggest that tobacco smoke may impair normal nitric oxide generation in skeletal muscle.