Muscular dystrophy refers to which of the following?

Muscular dystrophy refers to which of the following?

• A. A single acute illness causing sudden weakness.
• B. A group of hereditary diseases characterized by degeneration of muscle and weakness.
• C. An autoimmune disease affecting the nerves.
• D. A temporary condition causing muscle stiffness only after exercise.

Answer: (B)

Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited disorders defined by progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles caused by genetic defects in the proteins that keep muscle fibers intact. Because these conditions are genetic and affect the muscle tissue itself, they lead to gradual loss of strength over time and replacement of muscle with fibrous tissue and fat. This is why the description fits a chronic, hereditary degenerative process rather than an acute illness, a nerve-targeted autoimmune disease, or a temporary condition after exercise. Duchenne and Becker are examples of forms where the defect in a muscle protein (such as dystrophin) drives the degeneration, but the overarching idea is a hereditary, progressive muscle deterioration rather than a short-lived or nerve-centered issue.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited disorders defined by progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles caused by genetic defects in the proteins that keep muscle fibers intact. Because these conditions are genetic and affect the muscle tissue itself, they lead to gradual loss of strength over time and replacement of muscle with fibrous tissue and fat. This is why the description fits a chronic, hereditary degenerative process rather than an acute illness, a nerve-targeted autoimmune disease, or a temporary condition after exercise. Duchenne and Becker are examples of forms where the defect in a muscle protein (such as dystrophin) drives the degeneration, but the overarching idea is a hereditary, progressive muscle deterioration rather than a short-lived or nerve-centered issue.