Organ Lateral Sclerosis : A Disease That Affects The Nervous System

1578 Words Jun 20th, 2016 7 Pages
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a disease that affects the Nervous system as well as the Muscular System as well, this disease is defined as a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. A-myo-trophic is a Greek term when translated it means “No muscle Nourishment”. This lack of nourishment causes a reaction within the muscles leading to their eventual break down, otherwise known as “atrophies” which is a simple term meaning that the muscle wastes away. When looking at the term “Lateral”, this is in reference to the section of spinal cord in which the nerves are being affected. While this area degenerates it will lead to eventual scarring and hardening within this region (this is also known as sclerosis). (What is ALS?, 2016)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the famous Yankee baseball player who was diagnosed with this disease in 1939, it is a complex condition in which the body attacks its own neurons responsible for controlling voluntary muscles and movement. (ALS,2016) It is not a common disease, however it is the most common motor neuron disease, and as of right now there is no cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. This particular disease falls under a category of diseases known as Motor Neuron Disease, these diseases are characterized by the gradual degeneration of motor neurons and eventual death of these neurons. There have been many advances in the treatment of…
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