Myoclonic jerk
noun
an involuntary contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles, as when dropping off to sleep or getting hiccups
Examples
Myoclonic jerks are also a sign of a number of neurological disorders.
See hypnagogic jerk
Word Origin
1968
Read Also:
- Myoclonus
[mahy-ok-luh-nuh s] /maɪˈɒk lə nəs/ noun, Pathology. 1. an abrupt spasm or twitch of a muscle or group of muscles, occurring in some neurological diseases. myoclonus my·oc·lo·nus (mī-ŏk’lə-nəs) n. A sudden shocklike twitching of muscles or parts of muscles without any rhythm or pattern, occurring in various brain disorders. my’o·clon’ic (mī’ə-klŏn’ĭk) adj.
- Myoclonus epilepsy
myoclonus epilepsy n. A familial epilepsy beginning in childhood or adolescence and characterized by progressive mental deterioration, by the abrupt or continuous clonus of parts or groups of muscles, and, histologically, by the presence of Lafora bodies in parts of the central nervous system. Also called Lafora body disease, Lafora’s disease.
- Myoclonus multiplex
myoclonus multiplex myoclonus mul·ti·plex (mŭl’tə-plěks’) n. A disorder characterized by rapid contractions occurring simultaneously or consecutively in various unrelated muscles. Also called Friedreich’s disease, paramyoclonus, polyclonia, polymyoclonus.
- Myocyte
[mahy-uh-sahyt] /ˈmaɪ əˌsaɪt/ noun 1. a contractile cell, especially an elongated cell in sponges that forms a sphincter around body openings. myocyte my·o·cyte (mī’ə-sīt’) n. A muscle cell.
- Myocytolysis
myocytolysis my·o·cy·tol·y·sis (mī’ō-sī-tŏl’ĭ-sĭs) n. The dissolution of muscle fiber.