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Muscle atrophy is the wasting or loss of muscle tissue. It can be caused by a number of factors, including immobility, ageing, malnutrition, medications, or a wide range of injuries or diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system. There are three types of muscle atrophy: physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic. Physiologic atrophy is caused by not using the muscles enough, and can often be reversed with exercise and better nutrition. Pathologic atrophy is seen with ageing, starvation, and diseases such as Cushing's disease. Neurogenic atrophy is the most severe type of muscle atrophy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Function | Pumping blood, supporting movement, lifting heavy weights, giving birth |
| Movement | Contraction or relaxation |
| Type of movement | Voluntary or involuntary |
| Type of tissue | Skeletal muscle |
| Type of cell | Animal cell |
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What You'll Learn
Physiologic atrophy is caused by not using muscles enough
Muscle atrophy is the wasting (thinning) or loss of muscle tissue. People may lose 20 to 40 per cent of their muscle and, along with it, their strength as they age. Scientists have found that a major reason people lose muscle is because they stop doing everyday activities that use muscle power, not just because they grow older.
Muscle atrophy can also be caused by immobility, malnutrition, medications, or a wide range of injuries or diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system. Depending on the duration of disuse and the health of the individual, this may be fully reversed with activity. Malnutrition first causes fat loss but may progress to muscle atrophy in prolonged starvation and can be reversed with nutritional therapy.
There are three types of muscle atrophy: physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic. Pathologic atrophy is seen with aging, starvation, and diseases such as Cushing's disease.
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Pathologic atrophy is seen with ageing, starvation, and diseases such as Cushing's disease
Muscle atrophy is the wasting or loss of muscle tissue. There are three types of muscle atrophy: physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic. Physiologic atrophy is caused by not using the muscles enough. This type of atrophy can often be reversed with exercise and better nutrition. Pathologic atrophy is seen with ageing, starvation, and diseases such as Cushing's disease. Cushing's disease is caused by taking too much medicine called corticosteroids or having overactive adrenal glands. It can also be caused by an imbalance between protein synthesis and protein degradation.
People who are most affected by physiologic atrophy are those who have seated jobs, health problems that limit movement, or decreased activity levels. Scientists have found that a major reason people lose muscle is because they stop doing everyday activities that use muscle power, not just because they grow older. Malnutrition first causes fat loss but may progress to muscle atrophy in prolonged starvation and can be reversed with nutritional therapy.
Pathologic atrophy is the most severe type of muscle atrophy. It can be caused by ageing, starvation, or diseases such as Cushing's disease. Cushing's disease is a disorder of the endocrine system and is caused by taking too much medicine called corticosteroids or having overactive adrenal glands. It can lead to behavioural disorders, hypertension, hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis, and hirsutism.
Neurogenic atrophy is caused by muscles losing their nerve supply and simply wasting away. It is the most severe type of muscle atrophy.
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Neurogenic atrophy is the most severe type of muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy is the loss of skeletal muscle mass. It can be caused by immobility, aging, malnutrition, medications, or a wide range of injuries or diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system. There are three types of muscle atrophy: physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic. Physiologic atrophy is caused by not using the muscles enough. Pathologic atrophy is seen with aging, starvation, and diseases such as Cushing's disease.
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Muscle atrophy can be caused by medications
Muscle atrophy is the wasting or loss of muscle tissue. It can be caused by immobility, aging, malnutrition, medications, or a wide range of injuries or diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system.
Medications are known to cause muscle atrophy, usually due to their direct effect on muscles. This includes glucocorticoids causing glucocorticoid myopathy or medications toxic to muscle such as doxorubicin. Disorders of the endocrine system such as Cushing's disease or hypothyroidism are also known to cause muscle atrophy.
The ubiquitin-proteasome system plays an important role in the proteolysis progress during skeletal muscle atrophy, which can be blocked by some proteasome inhibitors. The insulin-like growth factor-1/phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (IGF-1/PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway is associated with anabolic pathways. The activation of IGF-1 causes muscle hypertrophy, however, it cannot be used as a drug target.
Muscle atrophy can be caused by a variety of medications, and it is important to be aware of the potential side effects of any drugs you are taking. If you are concerned about muscle atrophy, it is best to speak to a medical professional.
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Malnutrition can cause muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy is the wasting (thinning) or loss of muscle tissue. It can be caused by immobility, ageing, malnutrition, medications, or a wide range of injuries or diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system. Malnutrition is an important factor contributing to muscle atrophy. Both underfeeding and obesity have negative consequences for the preservation of muscle mass and function. Malnutrition first causes fat loss but may progress to muscle atrophy in prolonged starvation. A lack of nutrients and protein can contribute to muscle atrophy because nutrients and proteins are necessary for normal muscle development and function. This lack of adequate nutrition can occur as a result of serious illnesses and may also be associated with strong medications, such as certain cancer drugs.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscles work by contracting and relaxing to cause movement.
Muscles can cause both voluntary and involuntary movement.
A voluntary movement is a movement that is made consciously.
An involuntary movement is done without our conscious awareness.
A muscle is a specialised cell type that is specialised for contraction.
