Final answer:
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that affects the acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue. Treatment options include medication to improve neuromuscular transmission and immunosuppressive therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that affects the acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction. This results in a reduction in the number of acetylcholine receptors on skeletal muscles. The physiological process that would be affected is the transmission of signals from nerve cells to muscle cells, as acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction. Someone afflicted with myasthenia gravis would experience muscle weakness and fatigue, especially in muscles around the eyes, leading to drooping eyelids. The disease can progress to involve other muscle groups.
Myasthenia gravis can be treated with medication that improves neuromuscular transmission, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. These drugs help increase the amount of acetylcholine available in the synaptic cleft, enhancing muscle contraction. In severe cases, immunosuppressive therapy may be used to reduce the immune system's attack on acetylcholine receptors.