reply to Don regarding motor neurons

[Guest guest]

I don't have Donna's posting anymore, but how I read what she was saying was

that upper motor neuron destruction automatically causes destruction of the

lower motor neurons and that's not necessarily true. Perhaps, I

misinterpreted her statement.

So to clarify, in ALS, both the upper motor neurons (located in the top part

of the brain) and the lower motor neurons (located in the brainstem and

spinal cord) are affected. The upper motor neurons send chemical messengers

(neurotransmitters) to the lower motor neurons, which in turn send

neurotransmitters to the muscles.

The lower motor neurons in the brainstem control the muscles in the face,

mouth, throat and tongue. The lower motor neurons in the spinal cord control

the muscles in the limbs, trunk, head and neck, as well as the respiratory

diaphragm and other muscles used in breathing.

I hope my explanation hasn't muddied the waters. I just didn't want the

person that Donna was responding to, to get the impression that one leads to

the other, i.e. PLS always progresses to ALS. None of us want to even think

that.

Dolores

Re: Re: TO TERAHERT/Donna/Dolores

> Hi, Dolores,

>

> I am not sure what you mean, but Donna's explanation at the most

> basic level seems correct to me. Lower motor neurons are those that

> instruct the muscles to perform in a certain manner with those

> instruction originated in the brain. Generally, there is little or

> no involvement of the lower motor neurons in PLS. The problem is

> that the upper motor neurons within the brain and spinal cord are

> damaged or destroyed and therefore cannot carry the signal to the

> connection (synapse) to the lower motor neurons.

[Guest guest]

DEAR DOLORES,

I AGREE WITH YOU IT WAS CONFUSING. THANKS FOR YOUR EXPLANATION. HAVE A VERY

HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY. LISA NICHOLS

Re: Re: TO TERAHERT/Donna/Dolores

>

>

> > Hi, Dolores,

> >

> > I am not sure what you mean, but Donna's explanation at the most

> > basic level seems correct to me. Lower motor neurons are those that

> > instruct the muscles to perform in a certain manner with those

> > instruction originated in the brain. Generally, there is little or

> > no involvement of the lower motor neurons in PLS. The problem is

> > that the upper motor neurons within the brain and spinal cord are

> > damaged or destroyed and therefore cannot carry the signal to the

> > connection (synapse) to the lower motor neurons.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>