Relaxed vs. Contracted Skeletal Paralysis

[Transformers]

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I was confused by something:

It says tetanus causes contracted muscle paralysis and botulism causes relaxed muscle paralysis. Furthermore, tetanus does so by blocking glycine (Inhibitory) secretion from the motor neuron and botulism blocks secretion of Acetylcholine. My point being that both cause paralysis, one by over contracting the muscle fibers and the other by not allowing contraction and thus leaving the muscle in a rigor state. What then explains muscle weakness and muscle atrophy if botulism causes flaccid paralysis. Or is muscle atrophy and weakness a subsequent symptom of flaccid paralysis.

I appreciate your clarification.

Thanks guys.

 

[rocuronium]

If only some of the muscle fibers are paralyzed by botulism then the rest would still be able to contract. With fewer contracting fibers the muscle would not have the same strength as if all fibers were contracting, however. This would manifest as muscle weakness.

Muscle atrophy can occur after long term or even short term muscle inactivity. Since muscles paralyzed by botulism would be unable to contract, it is likely that muscle wasting would occur.

Does that help?