The muscles that move the skeleton are called skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles operate by receiving signals from the brain via specific nerves telling them what to do. This combination which allows movement through cooperation of the nervous system and the muscles is termed the neuro-muscular system.
Symptoms and characteristics:
There are many types of neuro-muscular conditions. Symptoms may be minor through to life threatening and can include:
- changes within the muscles, such as wastage, weakness, pain, cramping, spasticity or paralysis
- loss of coordination and balance
- skin rashes
- altered sensation such as tingling, numbness and pins and needles
- difficulty with breathing and swallowing
- altered vision
- fatigue
- tremors and twitching
- altered speech
- changes in bowel and bladder function
- mood changes.
(Tortora & Anagnostakos 1990; Better Health Channel 2007; MND Research (no date specified))
References:
Better Health Channel 2007, Neuromuscular system, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 12 December 2008, <http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Neuromuscular_system?open>.
Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc (MND Research) (no date specified), What is motor neurone disease (MND)?, MND Research Institute of Australia, Sydney, viewed 12 December 2008, <http://www.mndresearch.asn.au/>.
Tortota, GJ & Anagnostakos, NP 1990, Principles of anatomy and physiology, 6th edn, Harper & Row Publishers, New York.
Links to specific types of neuro-muscular conditions:
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