spasm. 1

An involuntary and abnormal, usually painful, contraction of one or more muscles or groups of muscular fibers. 2. A convulsion. Bell's s. Convulsive tic of the face, bronchial s. See asthma, choreiform s. Spasmodic movements simulating chorea, clonic s. A s. in which the muscles or muscular fibers contract and relax alternately in very quick succe ion, habit s. A preferable term for what is called habit chorea, intention s. Persistent s. on attempting any muscular movement, s. of accommodation. S. of the ciliary muscles, s. of the eyelids. See blepharospasm, s. of the glottis. A spasmodic adduction of the vocal bands, producing a narrowing of the glottis during inspiration, tonic s. A s. in which the muscles or muscular fibers contract _ and remain contracted for a comparatively long time. [Gr., spasmos.']