Neuromuscular junction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, illustration - stock illustration

Illustration of a neuromuscular junction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A neuromuscular junction is a junction between a nerve cell, or neuron (green, left), and a muscle (green, right), where a nerve passes a signal to the muscle telling it to contract. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig disease, is a motor neuron disease that causes the death of neurons (nerve cells) controlling voluntary muscles. Most patients eventually lose the ability to walk, use their hands, speak, swallow, and breathe