infantile spasms

spasm (spazm)

1. a sudden, violent, involuntary muscular contraction.

2. a sudden transitory constriction of a passage, canal, or orifice.

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bronchial spasm  bronchospasm.

carpopedal spasm  spasm of the hand or foot, or of the thumbs and great toes, seen in tetany.

clonic spasm  a spasm consisting of clonic contractions.

facial spasm  tonic spasm of the muscles supplied by the facial nerve, involving the entire side of the face or confined to a limited area about the eye.

habit spasm  see under tic.

infantile spasms  a syndrome of severe myoclonus appearing in infancy and associated with general cerebral deterioration.

intention spasm  muscular spasm on attempting voluntary movement.

myopathic spasm  spasm accompanying disease of the muscles.

nodding spasm  a nodding motion of the head accompanied by nystagmus, seen in infants and young children.

saltatory spasm  clonic spasm of the muscles of the legs, producing a peculiar jumping or springing motion when standing.

tetanic spasm , tonic spasm tetanus (2).

toxic spasm  spasm caused by a toxin.

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infantile spasms,

a syndrome of severe myoclonus appearing in the first 18 months of life and associated with general cerebral deterioration. It is marked by severe flexion spasms of the head, neck, and trunk and extension of the arms and legs. Also called infantile massive spasms, jackknife seizures, jackknife spasms.