tonic-clonic seizure (redirected from Epilepsy, tonic-clonic)

tonic-clonic seizure,

an epileptic seizure characterized by a generalized involuntary muscular contraction and cessation of respiration followed by tonic and clonic spasms of the muscles. Breathing resumes with noisy respirations. The teeth may be clenched, the tongue bitten, and control of the bladder or bowel lost. As this phase of the seizure passes, the person may fall asleep or experience confusion. Usually the person has no recall of the seizure on awakening. A sensory warning, or aura, can precede each tonic-clonic seizure. These seizures may occur singly, at intervals, or in close succession. Anticonvulsant medications are usually prescribed as prophylaxis against tonic-clonic seizures. Also called grand mal seizure. Compare absence seizure, focal seizure, psychomotor seizure.

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tonic-clonic seizure,

n seizure distinguished by a sudden loss of consciousness and involuntary muscle contraction that lasts for a few mi-nutes. Persons affected may bite their tongues, clench their teeth, and lose control of bodily functions such as defecation or urination. Often the patient has no memory of the event on awakening. Also called
grand mal seizure.

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seizure

1. the sudden attack or recurrence of a disease.

2. a convulsion or attack of epilepsy.

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audiogenic seizure

a seizure brought on by sound.

cerebral seizure

an attack of epilepsy.

epileptiform seizure

see epileptiform.

focal seizure

see partial seizure (below).

generalized seizure

see grand mal seizure (below).

grand mal seizure

one with no localizing signs. After a brief period of restlessness, there is unconsciousness, generalized muscular activity, excessive salivation, chewing activity, opisthotonos, running movements, and often urination and defecation. The most common type of seizure in dogs and cats.

Jacksonian seizure

see Jacksonian epilepsy.

partial seizure

one restricted to a focus in the brain; signs correspond to the area affected, e.g. motor activity of an isolated area or limb, hallucinations such as fly catching, apparent blindness, behavioral abnormalities, etc. Called also focal seizures.

petit mal seizure

a mild, very brief generalized seizure. See also petit mal.

photogenic seizure

a seizure brought on by light.

psychomotor seizure

motor seizures accompanied by a psychic stage. There are hallucinations, salivation, pupillary dilatation, mastication, fecal and urinary excretion, and wild running. Seen in dogs with lesions in the pyriform lobe or hippocampus and from poisoning with agenized flour (canine hysteria). Called also running fits.

tetanic seizure

see tetany.

seizure threshold

the level of stimulation at which a seizure is precipitated.

tonic seizure

one in which the muscles are rigid.

tonic-clonic seizure

alternating tonic (rigid muscles) and clonic (jerking of muscles) phases; a grand mal seizure.

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tonic-clonic seizure

Generalized tonic-clonic seizure, see there, aka grand mal seizure. See Grand mal seizure.