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Myasthenia Gravis Research Paper

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Myasthenia Gravis Research Paper
Michelle Zheng
Professor Dempsey
April 25, 2017
BIOL 2401
Abstract
Thomas Willis discovered Myasthenia gravis in 1672. Myasthenia Gravis (mg) is known for muscle weakness, and it is a type II hypersensitivity. MG has no cure, but there are many different kinds of treatment. It is more common in young women and old men, but it is not inheritable. The most common symptom of MG is that it affects the ocular (eye) muscle. MG affects the immune system, but mostly it affects the process of muscle contraction and attacks the receptors. Many people who have MG live normal lives, but it takes time to get used to the symptoms.

Discussion
The Neuromuscular Disease
Myasthenia Gravis (Mg) is an autoimmune disease that causes weakness to …show more content…
Also, MG causes difficulty in chewing, swallowing, and breathing. When one is having difficulty chewing, that person has to rest their mouth after every bite they take. However, signs of having myasthenia gravis commonly start in the ocular muscle which causes drooping eye (ptosis) or double vision (diplopia) (Mayo Clinic). There is still no cure, but there are treatments that help reduce or control the weakness in the voluntary muscles. Myasthenia gravis can occur in anybody, but it is more common in younger women from ages 20-40 and older men from 50-80(Merck Manual). MG might have something to do with sex and age. In addition, this disease is actually a chronic disease which means it will keep occurring and be long lasting. MG is not genetic or inherited, but MG does have a lot to do with age, gender, and ethnicity …show more content…
In a normal muscle contraction, the motor neuron (effector) releases Acetylcholine (Ach), a neurotransmitter, at the neuromuscular junction. Then the Ach binds with Nicotinic Ach receptor (AchR) on the membrane of the muscle and causes a chain reaction which contracts the muscle. MG is caused by autoantibodies which mean that the autoantibodies are blocking out the Ach. This causes the autoantibodies to bind with nicotinic AchR. This means the Ach that were released by the motor neurons were not able to bind with the AchR. The result is that no signal could be sent out to contract the muscle, and that causes fatigue in the
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