Question

polio is a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by infection with poliovirus. the virus, however, never infects muscular tissue. explain how it could paralyze the muscles without invading them. explain why it does not paralyze cardiac muscle and stop the heart.

Answer 1

The polio virus spreads along nerve pathways and primarily destroys motor neurone of the anterior hors on the spinal cord. This results in asymmetrical paralysis with muscle atrophy and weakness occurring in the lower limbs more so than the upper limbs. Anterior horns of the spinal cord sends out motor signals to the skeletal muscles and thus only affects skeletal muscles and not the cardiac muscles