Diseases

Motor Neuron Disease

Diseases characterized by a selective degeneration of the motor neurons of the spinal cord, brainstem, or motor cortex. Clinical subtypes are distinguished by the major site of degeneration. In AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS there is involvement of upper, lower, and brainstem motor neurons. In progressive muscular atrophy and related syndromes (see MUSCULAR ATROPHY, SPINAL) the motor neurons in the spinal cord are primarily affected. With progressive bulbar palsy (BULBAR PALSY, PROGRESSIVE), the initial degeneration occurs in the brainstem. In primary lateral sclerosis, the cortical neurons are affected in isolation. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1089)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Diseases characterized by a selective degeneration of the motor neurons of the spinal cord, brainstem, or motor cortex. Clinical subtypes are distinguished by the major site of degeneration. In AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS there is involvement of upper, lower, and brainstem motor neurons. In progressive muscular atrophy and related syndromes (see MUSCULAR ATROPHY, SPINAL) the motor neurons in the spinal cord are primarily affected. With progressive bulbar palsy (BULBAR PALSY, PROGRESSIVE), the initial degeneration occurs in the brainstem. In primary lateral sclerosis, the cortical neurons are affected in isolation. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1089)

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Synonyms

24 entry terms
  • Motor System Disease
  • Motor Neuron Diseases
  • Motor System Diseases
  • Neuron Disease, Motor
  • Neuron Diseases, Motor
  • Anterior Horn Cell Disease
  • Familial Motor Neuron Disease
  • Lateral Sclerosis
  • Lower Motor Neuron Disease
  • Motor Neuron Disease, Familial
  • Motor Neuron Disease, Lower
  • Motor Neuron Disease, Secondary
  • Motor Neuron Disease, Upper
  • Primary Lateral Sclerosis
  • Secondary Motor Neuron Disease
  • Upper Motor Neuron Disease
  • Lateral Scleroses
  • Lateral Scleroses, Primary
  • Lateral Sclerosis, Primary
  • Primary Lateral Scleroses
  • Scleroses, Lateral
  • Scleroses, Primary Lateral
  • Sclerosis, Lateral
  • Sclerosis, Primary Lateral

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Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

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Indexing Annotation

general or unspecified; prefer specifics

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History Note

92

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Motor Neurons (1966-1991)
  • Neuromuscular Diseases (1972-1991)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C10w.574w.562w
  2. C10w.668w.467w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WE 550

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Motor Neuron Disease. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016472. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016472
  2. Motor Neuron Disease. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_neuron_diseases
  3. Motor Neuron Disease. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3221083