Biomaterial Database

The distribution of muscular weakness in upper motor neuron lesions affecting the arm. 1989

J G Colebatch, and S C Gandevia

Department of Neurology, Prince Henry Hospital and School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

The strength of 12 muscle groups of the arm was measured to determine the distribution of upper motor neuron weakness in man. Three groups of subjects were studied: 14 intact volunteers (both sides recorded), 10 patients with unilateral arm paresis (both sides recorded) and 6 patients with severe paralysis of the arm (the 'intact' arm only measured). On the side contralateral to the causative lesion the pattern of weakness was not the same in all patients. Shoulder muscles were relatively spared while the wrist and finger flexors were relatively severely affected, the difference being statistically significant. In hemiparetic and hemiplegic patients the strength of muscles ipsilateral to the lesion was reduced compared with normal controls. These observations refine previous clinical descriptions of upper motor neuron weakness and have implications for its pathophysiology.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009046	Motor Neurons	Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS.	Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009468	Neuromuscular Diseases	A general term encompassing lower MOTOR NEURON DISEASE; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; and certain MUSCULAR DISEASES. Manifestations include MUSCLE WEAKNESS; FASCICULATION; muscle ATROPHY; SPASM; MYOKYMIA; MUSCLE HYPERTONIA, myalgias, and MUSCLE HYPOTONIA.	Amyotonia Congenita,Oppenheim Disease,Cramp-Fasciculation Syndrome,Fasciculation-Cramp Syndrome, Benign,Foley-Denny-Brown Syndrome,Oppenheim's Disease,Benign Fasciculation-Cramp Syndrome,Benign Fasciculation-Cramp Syndromes,Cramp Fasciculation Syndrome,Cramp-Fasciculation Syndromes,Fasciculation Cramp Syndrome, Benign,Fasciculation-Cramp Syndromes, Benign,Foley Denny Brown Syndrome,Neuromuscular Disease,Oppenheims Disease,Syndrome, Cramp-Fasciculation,Syndrome, Foley-Denny-Brown,Syndromes, Cramp-Fasciculation
D010243	Paralysis	A general term most often used to describe severe or complete loss of muscle strength due to motor system disease from the level of the cerebral cortex to the muscle fiber. This term may also occasionally refer to a loss of sensory function. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p45)	Palsy,Plegia,Todd Paralysis,Todd's Paralysis,Palsies,Paralyses,Paralysis, Todd,Paralysis, Todd's,Plegias,Todds Paralysis
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001132	Arm	The superior part of the upper extremity between the SHOULDER and the ELBOW.	Brachium,Upper Arm,Arm, Upper,Arms,Arms, Upper,Brachiums,Upper Arms