肌萎缩侧索硬化( ALS )很少见。它在中年开始发病，并且一直延续数年到死亡。存在前角细胞丧失,因此病人表现为渐进性衰弱， 这可能因神经源性肌萎缩而出现瘫痪。如图示，与正常脊索相比，由于前角细胞丧失，前(腹侧) 脊髓运动神经根萎缩。
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is uncommon. It begins in middle age and proceeds to death in several years. There is loss of anterior horn cells, so that patients present with progressive weakness that proceeds to paralysis from neurogenic muscular atrophy. Because of the loss of anterior horn cells, the anterior (ventral) spinal motor nerve roots demonstrate atrophy, as seen here in comparison with a normal spinal cord.