Sign or Symptom
myoclonus
my·oc·lo·nus [ mahy-ok-luh-nuhs ]
Subclass of:
Dyskinetic syndrome
Etymology:
Greek myo- (combining form of mys = a mouse or a muscle) + klonos = tumult
Definitions related to myoclonus:
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A rapid, involuntary jerk of a muscle or group of muscles.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Involuntary shock-like contractions, irregular in rhythm and amplitude, followed by relaxation, of a muscle or a group of muscles. This condition may be a feature of some CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; (e.g., EPILEPSY, MYOCLONIC). Nocturnal myoclonus is the principal feature of the NOCTURNAL MYOCLONUS SYNDROME. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp102-3).NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Shock-like contraction of a portion of a muscle, an entire muscle, or a group of muscles; may be part of a disease process or a normal physiological response.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Very brief, involuntary random muscular contractions occurring at rest, in response to sensory stimuli, or accompanying voluntary movements.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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(myoclonic jerk) A sudden, brief, strong contraction of a muscle or group of muscles that cannot be controlled.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(myoclonic jerk) A sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles; these movements may develop as a symptom of a number of neurological diseases, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Myoclonus is a brief, shocklike contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Diagnosis is clinical and sometimes confirmed by electromyographic testing. Treatment includes correction of reversible causes and, when necessary, oral drugs to relieve symptoms.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Myoclonus refers to a quick, involuntary muscle jerk. Hiccups are a form of myoclonus, as are the sudden jerks, or "sleep starts," you may feel just before falling asleep. These forms of myoclonus occur in healthy people and rarely present a problem.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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