spasm

(spazm) [L. spas’mus; Gr. oxacuds]. A sudden, violent, involuntary, rigid contraction due to muscular action. When persistent, it is called fonic s.; when characterized by alternate contraction and relaxation, it is a clonic s.; also a sudden but transitory constriction of a pa age, canal, or orifice. Spasm is attended by pain and interference with function, producing involuntary movement and distortion. 8. of accommodation, spasm of the ciliary muscles, producing exce of accommodation for near objects. athetoid s., a spasm in which the affected member makes movements like those of athetosis. Bell’s s., convulsive tic. bronchial s., spasmodic contraction of the muscular coat of the bronchial tubes, such as occurs in asthma. cadaveric 8., rigor mort is causing movements of the limbs. Θ 8., the sardonic grin. See surdonic. carpopedal s., spasm of the wrist or foot, or of the thumbs and great toes: seen in children with rickets and in cases of laryngismus stridulus. cerebral 8., one due to a cerebral lesion. clonic s., a spasm in which rigidity of the muscles is followed immediately by relaxation. cynics. See risus sardonic us. facial s., clonic spasm of the muscles supplied by the facial nerve, either involving the entire side of the face or confined to a limited region around the eye. fixed s., rmanent rigidity of a muscle or set of muscles. unmctional s. Same as occupation-neurosis. See neurosis. habit-s., habitually performed spasmodic movements; especially involuntary movements performed habitually in connection with particular acts, as teething. See also fic. handicraft s., any occupation-neurosis. histrionic 5., convulsive tic; convulsion of the facial muscles analogous to writers’ cramp. inspiratory 8., spasmodic contraction of the musles of inspiration. intention 8., muscular spasm occurring on attempting voluntary movement. lock-s., a firm tonic spasm that seems to lock the fingers together, as in writers’ cramp and in other similar affections. malleatory s. Same as mualleation. mimic 8., convulsion of the jacial muscles. mobile s., a tonic spasm with irregular movements of the extremities. It occurs especially after hemiplegia, and is then called spastic hemiplegia and post hemiplegic chorea. myopathic s., that which accompanies a disease of the muscles. nictitating s. Same as winking s. nodding s., salaam convulsions; clonic spasm of the sternomastoid muscles, producing bowing motions. occupation 8., a spasm, such as writers’ cramp, due to continual repetition of some movement. perineal s., vaginodynia. phonatory s., spasm of the tensors of the vocal bands. profe ional 8. Same as occupation s. respiratory 8., spasm of the muscles of respiration. retro colic s., spasmodic retroflexion of the head. Romberg’s 8., masticatory spasm of the muscles supplied by the fifth nerve. rotatory 8., intermittent spasm of the splenius muscle causing rotation of the head. salaam 8s. Same as nodding s. saltatory 8., palm us; clonic spasm of the muscles of the legs, producing a peculiar jumping or springing motion in the patient. sewing s., spasm of the muscles of the forearm and hand in those engaged in sewing, such as seamstre es, shoemakers, tailors, etc. shoemakers’ 8., spasm of the muscles of the forearm and hand in shoemakers. Smith's s., hephestic hemiplegia. See hemiplegia. synclonic 8., clonic spasm of more than one muscle. tetanic 8. 1. Emprosthotonos, pleurothotonos, or opisthotonos. 2. Same as tonic s. tonic s., spasm in which rigidity persists for a considerable time. toxic s., that which is due to a poison. ing s., spasmodic twitching of the orbicularis palpebra rum muscle and of the eyelid. writers’ 8., writers’ cramp.