Intensive care unit acquired weakness （ICUAW） is a group of clinical syndromes characterized by progressive systemic limb weakness in patients in the intensive care unit， with no other reason to explain it except for critically ill individuals. The main manifestation is neuromuscular dysfunction. The pathogenesis of ICUAW involves complex functional and structural changes in the central， peripheral nervous system and muscle fibers， but it has not yet been fully understood. This article reviews the potential pathogenesis of ICUAW at present， in order to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of ICUAW. ［Journal of International Neurology and Neurosurgery, 2023, 50(2): 62-66］