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Definition
| Lack of normal tone or strength. This happens in muscles that are deprived of innervation (which is the supply of nerve fibers functionally connected with a part). Try not to confuse this term with atrophy (below) or atopy (which is a genetic predisposition towards hypersensitivity to common environmental antigens). |
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Definition
| The wasting away or weakening of muscle fibers due to a lack of usage. There are many different kinds of atrophy. Look up “atrophy” in a medical dictionary and read or scan the terms that appear under this category. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| A bruised or torn muscle accompanied by cramps and severe pain. This particular injury most commonly affects the quadriceps muscle. (Incidentally, quadriceps is like biceps or triceps, which always ends in -s, whether singular or plural.) Lay people refer to any muscle spasm of the legs or feet as a charley horse. |
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Definition
| A sustained spasm or contraction of a muscle accompanied by severe, localized pain. |
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Definition
| Sustained abnormal postures or disruptions of normal movement resulting from alterations of muscle tone. |
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Definition
| Painless thickening and contracture of the palmar fascia due to fibrous proliferation, resulting in loss of function of the fingers. |
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Definition
| Similar to fibrillations or tremors. A repetitive, involuntary contraction of muscle. The main cause is nerve damage. |
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Definition
| A rheumatic disorder characterized by achy pain, tenderness, and stiffness. |
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| Fibromyalgia is also called myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyositis. A group of rheumatic disorders caused by achy pain, tenderness, and stiffness of muscles and tendon insertions. |
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Definition
| A thin-walled band cyst formed on a joint capsule or tendon sheath. |
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Definition
| A benign tumor of smooth muscle tissue (e.g., the uterus). |
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Definition
| A genetic abnormality of muscle tissue characterized by dysfunction and ultimately deterioration. |
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Definition
| A sac-like cavity filled with synovial fluid and located in places where tendons or muscles pass over bony prominences. |
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Definition
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Definition
| A chronic progressive neuromuscular weakness, usually starting with the muscles of the face and throat. |
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Definition
| Any disease of the muscles. |
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Definition
| A disease characterized by bony deposits or the ossification of muscle tissue. |
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Definition
| The loss of nervous control of a muscle. Paralysis is commonly thought of as related to paraplegia, a paralysis of the legs (lower extremities) or quadriplegia, a paralysis of all four limbs. However, there are many different types of paralysis affecting many different muscles and organs of the body. These can be seen in a medical dictionary under paralysis. |
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Definition
| A paralysis of the legs (lower extremities). |
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Definition
| A paralysis of all four limbs. |
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Definition
| Excessive pulling or stretching of the calcaneal periosteum by the plantar fascia, resulting in pain along the inner border of the plantar fascia. This definition applies specifically to the process that affects the plantar surface of the foot. Fasciitis is inflammation of the fascia. There are other types of fasciitis, which can be seen in a medical dictionary under fasciitis |
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Definition
| An autoimmune disorder which causes atrophy and weakness of the muscles. |
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Definition
| Rigor means chilled, stiffness, rigidity. Rigor mortis is the muscular hardness occurring 4–7 hours after death. |
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Definition
| Also called tenosynovitis. Inflammation of a tendon or the synovial lining of a tendon sheath due to trauma or repetitive wear. (Note the spelling: tendonitis is an acceptable alternative spelling, but tendinitis is preferred.). |
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Definition
| Also called lateral and medial epicondylitis. A strain of the lateral forearm muscles or the tendinous attachments near their origin on the epicondyle of the humerus. (Again note that when “tendon” is changed to another form, the “o” changes to “i”—tendinous.) |
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Term
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Definition
| A disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which produces a toxin that causes muscles to go into tetany (hyperexcitability of nerves and muscles, specifically characterized by muscular cramps and twitching). Jaw muscles are affected first. Lockjaw is the more common name. |
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Term
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Definition
| Persistent contraction of a sternocleidomastoid muscle, drawing the head to one side and distorting the face. Causes rotation of the head. |
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