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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Immunolabelling Myofiber Degeneration in Muscle Biopsies

Immunolabelling Myofiber Degeneration in Muscle Biopsies

Published on: December 5, 2019

How Do Skeletal Muscles Die? An Overview.

Eli Carmeli¹, Dror Aizenbud, Oren Rom

¹Department of Physical Therapy, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave. Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel, ecarmeli@univ.haifa.ac.il.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

|May 29, 2015

Summary

Understanding "muscle death" is crucial for clinicians. This overview clarifies the different mechanisms like apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis involved in skeletal muscle loss due to various conditions.

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Science
Skeletal Muscle Physiology
Pathology

Background:

Skeletal muscle atrophy leads to loss of strength and function.
Muscle death can occur through apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis.
Various physiological and pathological conditions trigger muscle death.

Purpose of the Study:

To clarify confusion surrounding the term "muscle death" for clinicians.
To elucidate the medical terminology and pathways of muscle death.
To discuss pathological conditions leading to muscle death, such as cachexia and sarcopenia.

Main Methods:

Literature review and synthesis of existing research on muscle death mechanisms.
Analysis of pathological pathways involved in skeletal muscle atrophy.
Discussion of clinical conditions associated with muscle wasting.

Main Results:

Muscle death involves distinct mechanisms including apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis.
Skeletal muscle atrophy is a common consequence of diverse stimuli.
Conditions like aging, inflammation, and cancer contribute to muscle death.

Conclusions:

Clear understanding of muscle death terminology is essential for clinical practice.
Different pathways contribute to skeletal muscle loss.
Further research into muscle death mechanisms can inform treatments for muscle wasting diseases.