A patient is referred to your clinic with weakness, atrophy (wasting) of muscle without involvement of the nervous system, and progressive disability and loss of strength. What is the likely diagnosis?

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The symptoms described are typical of muscular dystrophy, a group of genetic disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting without involvement of the nervous system. Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that affects the development of the spinal cord and can cause a variety of neurological symptoms. Tetraparesis is weakness or partial paralysis of all four limbs, but does not specifically indicate muscle wasting.

A Patient Is Referred to Your Clinic with Weakness, Atrophy