generalized tonic-clonic seizure

seizure /sei·zure/ (se´zhur)

1. the sudden attack or recurrence of a disease.

2. a single episode of epilepsy, often named for the type it represents.

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absence seizure  the seizure of absence epilepsy, marked by a momentary break in consciousness of thought or activity and accompanied by a symmetrical 3-cps spike and wave activity on the electroencephalogram.

adversive seizure  a type of focal motor seizure in which there is forceful, sustained turning to one side by the eyes, head, or body.

atonic seizure  an absence seizure characterized by sudden loss of muscle tone.

automatic seizure  a type of complex partial seizure characterized by automatisms, often ambulatory and involving quasipurposeful acts.

clonic seizure  one in which there are generalized clonic contractions without a preceding tonic phase.

complex partial seizure  a type of partial seizure associated with disease of the temporal lobe and characterized by varying degrees of impairment of consciousness and automatisms, for which the patient is later amnestic.

febrile seizures  see under convulsion.

generalized tonic-clonic seizure  the seizure of grand mal epilepsy, consisting of a loss of consciousness and generalized tonic convulsions followed by clonic convulsions.

myoclonic seizure  one characterized by a brief episode of myoclonus.

partial seizure  any seizure due to a lesion in a specific, known area of the cerebral cortex.

reflex seizure  an episode of reflex epilepsy.

sensory seizure 

1. a simple partial seizure manifested by paresthesias or other hallucinations, including several types of aura.

2. a reflex seizure in response to a sensory stimulus.

simple partial seizure  a localized type of partial seizure, without loss of consciousness; if it progresses to another type of seizure it is called an aura.

tonic seizure  one characterized by tonic but not clonic contractions.

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generalized tonic-clonic seizure

n.

See grand mal seizure.

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seizure [se´zhur]

1. the sudden attack or recurrence of a disease.

2. a convulsion or attack of epilepsy.

absence seizure the seizure seen in petit mal epilepsy, marked by a momentary break in the stream of thought and activity, accompanied by a symmetrical spike and wave at 3 cycles per second on the electroencephalogram. Called also petit malseizure. See epilepsy.

atonic seizure an absence seizure characterized by sudden loss of muscle tone.

complex partial seizure see partial seizure.

febrile seizure febrile convulsion.

focal seizure partial seizure.

focal motor seizure a simple partial seizure consisting of clonus or spasm of a muscle or muscle group, occurring either singly or in a continuous repetitive series.

generalized tonic-clonic seizure (grand mal seizure) the seizure seen in grand mal epilepsy, marked by loss of consciousness and generalized tonic convulsions followed by clonic convulsions. See epilepsy.

jackknife s's infantile spasms.

myoclonic seizure one characterized by a brief episode of myoclonus.

partial seizure any seizure due to a lesion in a specific, known area of the cerebral cortex; symptoms vary with different lesion locations. A simple partial seizure is the most localized type, with a discharge that is predominantly one-sided or presents localized features without loss of consciousness. A complex partial seizure is associated with disease of the temporal lobe and characterized by varying degrees of impairment of consciousness. See epilepsy.

petit mal seizure absence seizure.

reflex seizure (sensory seizure) an epileptic seizure in response to a sensory stimulus, which may be tactile, visual, auditory, or musical.

simple partial seizure see partial seizure.

tonic-clonic seizure see generalized tonic-clonic seizure.

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generalized tonic-clonic seizure

Generalized seizure, grand mal seizure, tonic-clonic seizure Neurology A seizure of the entire body, characterized by muscle rigidity, violent rhythmic contractions, and loss of consciousness, with abnormal electric activity in neurons; GCTS may occur in anyone at any age, as a single episode or as a repeated, chronic condition–epilepsy, and are caused by abnormal electrical activity at multiple locations in the brain, or over most of the brain, which may be accompanied by changes in mental status–alertness, awareness and/or focal neurologic Sx Etiology Idiopathic, congenital defects and perinatal, metabolic defects, DM complications, electrolyte imbalances, kidney failure, uremia, nutritional deficiencies, PKU, alcohol or drugs, brain injury, tumors and space occupying lesions–eg, hematomas