Disorders of Muscles and Joints — An Overview

Beyond identifying names for common muscular and skeletal disorders, the source material available for this platform does not go into their detailed causes, symptoms or treatment — so what follows is only a general-knowledge one-line description of each, not textbook-depth exam content, and it should be read honestly as an overview rather than a full explanation.

• Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which transmission of the nerve signal at the neuromuscular junction is impaired, causing abnormal muscle weakness and fatigue.
• Tetany refers to sustained, painful involuntary muscle spasms or cramps, classically associated with a fall in blood calcium levels.
• Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited disorders marked by progressive weakening and wasting of skeletal muscle over time.
• Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, producing pain, swelling and stiffness.
• Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones lose density and become porous and fragile, making them more likely to fracture.
• Gout is a form of arthritis caused by the deposition of uric-acid crystals within a joint, leading to sudden pain and swelling, most classically in the big toe. …