Questions:1. James suffers from a condition called Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Explain the full meaning of this name. DMD, also known as muscular dystrophy, is a muscle disease that occurs in young boys between the ages of four and six. Muscular dystrophy is a genetically transmissible disease, passed from parent to offspring. This disease progressively damages or disrupts the functions of the skeletal and cardiac muscles, starting in the lower limbs. Obviously, by damaging the muscle, the lower limbs and other affected muscles become very weak. This is ultimately due to the lack of dystrophin, a protein produced by the body.2. At the age of 4, James had a biopsy of his right gastrocnemius muscle. The pathologist's report noted histopathological changes suggestive of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Describe in detail the typical microscopic changes seen in the muscle tissue of a person with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. James' biopsy of his right gastrocnemius muscle reportedly showed degeneration of muscle or skeletal fibers due to the absence of dystrophy. Another microscopic change that would be noticed is the accumulation of white blood cells. White blood cells have a very specific function, which is to remove debris from damaged muscle fibers. Obviously, because some muscle fibers are damaged, other healthy fibers that have not been damaged appear denser. By having damaged muscle fibers, all the work falls on the healthy fibers, making them contract as much as possible because the myosin and its action would have to overlap even more to make the muscle work.3. Which muscles are most seriously affected by this disease process? Skeletal and ultimate muscle fibers of the heart muscle are affected by DMD. The disease begins by affecting the lower port...... middle of paper ......ames susceptible to repeated lower respiratory tract infections? As said before, DMD weakens the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. These muscles make breathing easier, so he has difficulty expanding his lungs, making him prone to infections. Additionally, because he cannot control his breathing muscles, this can cause him to swallow food and aspirate it into his lungs, creating obstructions in his airways. There may be many different lung infections that James will be prone to because of this.13. What is the average lifespan of a person with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and what are the most common causes of death in people with this disease? The average lifespan of a person with DMD is around 18 years. Some of the most common causes of death are heart failure, respiratory failure or infection and airway obstruction..