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myokymia

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myokymia /myo·kym·ia/ (-ki´me-ah)
1. a benign condition marked by brief spontaneous tetanic contractions of motor units or groups of muscle fibers, usually adjacent groups of fibers contracting alternately.
2. myoky´mic

my·o·ky·mi·a (m-km-, -km-)
n.
A benign condition, often familial, characterized by irregular twitching of groups of muscle fibers giving a rippling appearance to the overlying skin. Also called kymatism.

myokymia [mi″o-ki´me-ah]
a benign condition in which there is persistent quivering of the muscles.

myokymia
a benign condition in which there is persistent quivering of the muscles.

myokymia
Twitching of a few bundles of fibres of the eyelid muscle. It occurs most commonly when fatigued, sometimes on exposure to cold, and in some pathological cases (e.g. multiple sclerosis) in which case the entire muscle is involved. Superior oblique myokymia can often be diagnosed by noting fine torsional nystagmus of the affected eye on slit-lamp examination. In cases where no nystagmus is noted, a patient's history of monocular episodic oscillopsia, associated with vertical diplopia, may be sufficient to make a diagnosis. The use of carbamazepine or propranolol has been suggested as possible treatments in stopping the myokymia. See orbicularis muscle; multiple sclerosis.


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It is important to distinguish this process from other types of facial spasm, such as psychogenic facial spasm, facial tic, facial myokymia, blepharospasm, and tardive dyskinesia.
Sometimes the term orbiculus oculi myokymia is used, for example if you stayed up too late or drank too much coffee, sometimes you may get a little twitch on the side of your eye and sometimes that is within the spectrum of myokymia.
Officially called blepharospasm or myokymia, its unofficial name is slapped cheek syndrome, because people get the wrong impression when you're sitting on a bar stool sipping cocktails.
 
 
 
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