Understanding Myasthenia Gravis: The Impact on Muscle Function

AI Thread Summary
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly produces antibodies against its own acetylcholine receptors, leading to impaired muscle function. These antibodies bind to acetylcholine receptors on muscle cell membranes, preventing proper neurotransmission. This disruption causes a progressive weakening of motor responses, starting with symptoms like difficulty opening eyelids and advancing to challenges in speaking, swallowing, and potentially impaired breathing, which can be fatal. The critical step affected in muscle function is the binding of acetylcholine to its receptors, which is essential for muscle contraction.
nautica
In the disease myathenia gravis, the body makes, by mistake, antibodies to its own actylcholine receptors molecules. These antibodies bind to and inactivate acetylcholine receptors on the plasma membrane of muscle cells. The disease leads to a progressive weakening of the patients motor responses. Early on, they may have difficulty opening their eyelids, for example. As the disease progresses,, most muscles weaken, and patients have difficulty speaking and swallowing. Eventually, impaired breathing can cause death.

Now, I need to explain which step of muscle funtion is affected.
 
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Acetylcholine is a neurotransmittor released from the neural motor end plate of a neuron, it will bind to acetylcholine receptors on the muscle and cause a depolarization that leads the muscle to contract.
 
Yes, I understood that. I guess, I was just making too much out of the question. I guess what you said is the step, which is asked for.

thanks
nautica
 

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