heel tendons may assist walking in
some cases. The long-term outlook
depends on the particular form.
Families in which a child or adult has
developed any form of muscular dystro-
phy should receive genetic counselling.
muscular systemThe muscles of the
body that are attached to the skeleton.
These muscles are responsible for vol-
untary movement, and also support and
stabilize the skeleton. In most cases, a
muscle attaches to a bone (usually by
means of a tendon) and crosses over a
joint to attach to another bone. Muscles
can produce movement by contracting
and shortening to pull on the bone
to which they are attached. They can
only pull, not push, and are therefore
muscles of the hands, face, neck, and
feet, and causes learning difficulties.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy mainly
affects muscles in the hips and shoul-
ders, and facioscapulohumeral muscular
dystrophy affects muscles in the upper
arms, shoulder girdle, and face. In this
last form, severe disability is rare.
A diagnosis for Duchenne muscular
dystrophy can be made with gene test-
ing before symptoms develop. Once
muscle weakness develops other tests
become useful, including measurement
of muscle enzymesand an EMG.
There is no cure, and physiotherapyis
the main treatment. Remaining as
active as possible keeps healthy mus-
cles in good condition. Surgery to the
MUSCULAR SYSTEM
MUSCULAR SYSTEM MUSCULAR SYSTEM
M
FRONT VIEW
Trapezius
Splenius of head
Semispinalis of head
Deltoid
Triceps
of arm
Extensor
of fingers
Gluteus
maximus
Biceps of
thigh
Soleus
Achilles
tendon
Short
extensor
of toes
Long flexor
of toe
Erector
of spine
Gluteus
minimus
Quadrate
of thigh
Great
Adductor
Orbicular
of eye
Platysma
Ulnar
extensor
of wrist
Infraspinous
Semi-
membranous
Temporoparietal
Sternocleidomastoid
Biceps
of arm
Rectus of
abdomen
External
oblique of
abdomen
Sartorius
Rectus
of thigh
Medial
vastus
Dorsal
interosseous
of foot
Abductor of
great toe
Anterior
tibial
Internal
oblique of
abdomen
Short extensor
of great toe
Gracilis
Smaller
pectoral
External
intercostal
Internal
intercostal
Greater
pectoral
Deltoid
Iliopsoas
Gastrocnemius
Occipitofrontal
Deep
flexor of
fingers
BACK VIEW