Date of Award
Spring 1980
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biomedical Engineering
First Advisor
Llaurado, J. G.
Second Advisor
Curtis, R. L.
Third Advisor
Sances, Anthony
Abstract
Each efferent anterior horn cell which projects an A alpha diameter axon into embryonic skeletal muscle, innervates from ten to one thousand embryonic myotubes and induces the maturation of these cells. The lower motor neuron (LMN) and the muscle cells it innervates make up the minimal functional unit of skeletal muscle activity, the "motor unit". If the LMN cell body or its projecting axon is destroyed, the denervated muscle cells proceed through slowly progressing changes of dedifferentiation and eventual cell fragmentation termed denervation atrophy. In adult muscles of the mammal, at least two and perhaps many "classes" of muscle cells exist, each distinguished by a particular set of physiological and enzyme histochemical characteristics. Evidence is accumulating which supports the hypothesis that all of the muscle fibers innervated by a single lower motor neuron are of uniform "class". If this is true, then distinct classes of motor units and, thus, of LMNs must also exist and must differ from each other with reference to function i.e. to responsiveness to stretch and other reflex stimuli ...
Recommended Citation
Chen, Chyang Chou, "Model for Hereditary Motor Unit Degeneration in the Wobbler Mouse" (1980). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 4069.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/4069