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Related Concept Videos

Cross-bridge Cycle01:26

Cross-bridge Cycle

As muscle contracts, the overlap between the thin and thick filaments increases, decreasing the length of the sarcomere—the contractile unit of the muscle—using energy in the form of ATP. At the molecular level, this is a cyclic, multistep process that involves binding and hydrolysis of ATP, and movement of actin by myosin.
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...
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...
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.
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Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy01:21

Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy

Satellite stem cells or myosatellite cells are quiescent stem cells that Alexander Mauro first identified in 1961. These cells are located between the sarcolemma, the plasma membrane of muscle fibers, and the basal lamina, the connective tissue sheath covering it. These mononucleated cells are activated in response to muscle injury, can transform into myoblasts, and may form or repair muscle fibers. Myosatellite cells can provide additional myonuclei for muscle regeneration or return to a...
Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology

The disease process of myasthenia gravis begins at the neuromuscular junction, where antibodies attack key proteins needed for muscle activation. This immune reaction weakens signal transmission, leading to the characteristic muscle fatigue and weakness that define the condition.Immune-Mediated DamageIn most individuals, antibodies target acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on the postsynaptic membrane of muscle cells. By blocking acetylcholine binding, these antibodies prevent the nerve signal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

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

Disuse-induced muscle wasting.

Sue C Bodine1

  • 1Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States. scbodine@ucdavis.edu

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|June 27, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Muscle atrophy from disuse, common in immobilization and bed rest, lacks effective therapies due to poorly understood mechanisms. This review explores cellular and molecular factors driving muscle wasting in humans and animals.

Keywords:
Protein degradationProtein synthesisReloadingUbiquitin ligasesUnloading

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Area of Science:

  • Muscle physiology
  • Cellular biology
  • Molecular mechanisms of muscle wasting

Background:

  • Skeletal muscle mass loss is common in clinical settings due to joint immobilization and inactivity.
  • Disuse-induced muscle atrophy affects all individuals, particularly the elderly, and lacks effective treatments.
  • Current understanding is limited by incomplete knowledge of the cellular and molecular pathways regulating muscle atrophy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating muscle loss under disuse conditions.
  • To discuss similarities and discrepancies in the animal and human literature regarding disuse atrophy.
  • To highlight the need for further research into the molecular basis of muscle wasting.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on disuse-induced muscle atrophy.
  • Analysis of data from various models including joint immobilization, hindlimb unloading, bed rest, and spinal cord injury.
  • Comparison of findings from animal studies and human clinical observations.

Main Results:

  • Unloading conditions are associated with decreased protein synthesis in muscles.
  • The role of protein degradation in human muscle atrophy remains a subject of debate.
  • Discrepancies exist between animal models and human studies regarding the mechanisms of muscle loss.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms is crucial for developing therapies for disuse-induced muscle atrophy.
  • Further research is needed to reconcile findings between animal models and human studies.
  • Addressing muscle wasting requires a deeper insight into the molecular basis of muscle wasting.