Muscular dystrophy is characterized by what?

• A. Autoimmune destruction of myelin
• B. Progressive cognitive decline
• C. Acute inflammatory flaccidity
• D. Hereditary progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles

Answer: (D)

Muscular dystrophy describes inherited disorders in which muscle fibers progressively degenerate due to genetic defects in the proteins that build and maintain muscle, most notably dystrophin. This causes a gradual, ongoing weakening and wasting of the muscles that typically worsens over time and often begins in childhood. The hereditary, progressive loss of muscle strength and mass is the hallmark here, which is why this option fits best. The other descriptions point to different conditions: autoimmune destruction of myelin relates to demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis, cognitive decline isn’t a primary feature of muscular dystrophy, and acute inflammatory flaccidity points to conditions such as Guillain-Barré syndrome or inflammatory myopathies rather than a hereditary, progressive muscle-wasting disorder.