| spasmodic laryngitis | Catarrhal inflammation of the larynx in children, accompanied by night attacks of spasmodic closure of the glottis, causing inspiratory stridor. Synonym: spasmodic laryngitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| spasmodic stricture | A stricture due to localised spasm of muscular fibres in the wall of the canal. Synonym: functional stricture, temporary stricture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmodic tic | A disorder in which sudden spasmodic coordinated movements of certain muscles or groups of physiologically related muscles occur at irregular intervals. Synonym: Henoch's chorea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmodic torticollis | A disorder of unknown cause, manifested as a restricted dystonia, localised to some of the neck muscles, especially the sternomastoid and trapezius; occurs in adults and tends to progress slowly; the head movements increase with standing and walking and decrease with contractual stimuli, e.g., touching the chin or neck. Synonym: dystonic torticollis, rotatory spasm, rotatory tic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmogen | A substance causing contraction of smooth muscle; e.g., histamine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmogenic | Causing spasms. Origin: spasmo-+ G. -gen, producing (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmology | Study of the nature, causation, and means of relief of spasms. Origin: spasmo-+ G. Logos, study (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmolygmus | 1. Spasmodic sobbing. 2. Spasmodic hiccup. Origin: spasmo-+ G. Lygmos, a sobbing, hiccup, fr. Lyzo, to hiccup, sob (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmolysis | The arrest of a spasm or convulsion. Origin: spasmo-+ G. Lysis, dissolution (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmolytic | <pharmacology> Checking spasms, antispasmodic. Origin: Gr. Lysis = dissolution (05 Jan 1998) |
| spasmoneme | <cell biology> Contractile organelle found in Vorticella and related ciliate protozoans. Capable of shortening faster than any actin myosin system and of expanding actively. See: spasmin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| spasmophilia | Synonym: latent tetany. Origin: spasmo-+ G. Phileo, to love (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmophilic | Relating to spasmophilia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasmophilic diathesis | A condition in which there is an abnormal excitability of the motor nerves, shown by a tendency to tetany, laryngeal spasm, or general convulsions. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasms, infantile | Primary generalised epileptic seizures occurring in infants between birth and twelve months of age consisting of brief synchronous contractions of the neck, torso, and both arms. These seizures often occur in infants with underlying neurologic diseases. The prognosis for these infants is grave, with approximately ninety percent developing mental retardation in addition to their seizures. The eeg has a typical hypsarrhythmia pattern. The spasms and hypsarrhythmia have a tendency to disappear over the first three to five years of life, only to be replaced by other forms of generalised seizures. Infantile spasms sometimes respond to valproic acid or acth. (12 Dec 1998) |