ANATOMY

GENERAL ANATOMY

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that impacts the ____ gland.
A
pineal
B
adrenal
C
thymus
D
thyroid
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -In myasthenia gravis, the immune system damages the communication system between the nerves and muscles, making the muscles weak and easily tired. It’s not clear why this happens, but it’s been linked to issues with the thymus gland (a gland in the chest that’s part of the immune system).

Detailed explanation-2: -In many adults with myasthenia gravis, the thymus gland remains large. People with the disease typically have clusters of immune cells in their thymus gland and may develop thymomas (tumors of the thymus gland). Thymomas are most often harmless, but they can become cancerous.

Detailed explanation-3: -Thyroid disease is the most common associated with MG, rarely rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases. Other diseases include hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, dyslipidemia.

Detailed explanation-4: -Myasthenia gravis is caused by an abnormal immune reaction (antibody-mediated autoimmune response) in which the body’s immune defenses (i.e., antibodies) inappropriately attack certain proteins in muscles that receive nerve impulses.

Detailed explanation-5: -Thymic abnormalities were first noticed at autopsies of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) more than 100 years ago. The thymus is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of MG, an autoimmune disease mediated by antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of skeletal muscles.

There is 1 question to complete.