spasm

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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spasm (spzm)

n.

1. A sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.

2. A muscle spasm.

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Spasm

An involuntary, sudden, violent contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles.

Mentioned in: Antinausea Drugs, Antiparkinson Drugs, Antispasmodic Drugs, Kinesiology, Applied, Muscle Relaxants, Sciatica

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spasm

[spaz′əm]

Etymology: Gk, spasmos

1 an involuntary muscle contraction of sudden onset, such as habit spasms, hiccups, stuttering, or a tic.

2 a convulsion or seizure.

3 a sudden transient constriction of a blood vessel, bronchus, esophagus, pylorus, ureter, or other hollow organ. Compare stricture. See also bronchospasm, pylorospasm.

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spasm,

n sudden, involuntary contraction of muscle tissue accompanied by pain and interference with normal functioning.

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spasm (spaz´m),

n a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscle group. It may cause a twitch or close a canal or passage, depending on its location.

spasm, muscle,

n the increased muscular tension and shortness that cannot be released voluntarily and prevents lengthening of the muscles involved. Caused by pain stimuli to the lower motor neurons.

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spasm

1. a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.

2. a sudden but transitory constriction of a passage, canal or orifice. Spasms usually occur when the nerves supplying muscles are irritated, and are commonly accompanied by pain. Occasionally a spasm may occur in a blood vessel, and is then called vasospasm.

Spasms vary from mild twitches to severe seizures and may be the signs of any number of disorders.

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bronchial spasm

bronchospasm; spasmodic contraction of the muscular coat of the smaller divisions of the bronchi.

esophageal spasm

occurs mostly in young horses, the cause is unknown and the clinical syndrome is one of esophageal obstruction.

inherited congenital spasm's

in Jersey calves at birth; lethal within a few weeks; characterized by intermittent, vertical tremor of the head, neck and limbs, making progression and standing impossible; conditioned by a recessive gene.

muscle mass spasm

the basic functional defect in such diseases as Elso heel, inherited periodic spasticity.

nodding spasm

clonic spasm of the sternomastoid muscles, causing a nodding motion of the head.

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spasm

Neurology An abrupt, violent involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. See Blepharospasm spasm, Bronchospasm, Carpopedal spasm, Coronary artery spasm, Esophageal spasm, Vascular spasm.

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Patient discussion about spasm.

Q. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO STOP YOUR PANCREAS FROM SPASMS, I HAVE A HARD TIME WHEN IT SEEMS MY PANCREAS IS ACTING UP IT HURTS SO BAD AND MY LIPIDS ARE HIGH HOW DO I GET RID OF THE PAIN OR CONTROLL IT.

A. the Pancreas does not have sensory nerves in it. this is the reason why pancreas cancer is the most deadly- you don't realize it's there until it's much too late. so this pain you describe does not ad up to be from the Pancreas.
i think this is a very good reason to see a Doctor.

Q. I ask a client's Dr. to script flexaril for a lower back spasm and he made it for a drug called zanaflex? I am unfamiliar with zanaflex, what is the difference between it and flexaril 25mg? Benefits? Risks? I got him to order the air mattress and extended bed because client is 6'3" and is already bedridden on my 1st day..try to beat the skin breakdown, already stage I decubitis ulcers. I tried to talk the client into slideboard and lift away arm wheelchair...noway..he wants to walk bent with a rolling walker. He already had a lift chair delivered, so he just goes from bed to lift chair. He refuses to let me bathe him. He can't see, and he has me check his draw up on insulin to make sure it's right. He sends the P.T. man right back out the door after he signs the sheet. Difficult pt.!

A. Flexeril and Zanaflex are different drugs but are both muscle relaxants. There are hardly any differences between the two, clinically wise. If the doctor thought one is better than the other for your client I would suggest you take his advice and use the one he gave you.