spasmo-, spasm-, spas- +

(Greek > Latin: draw, tear, rend, pull; tension, convulsion; sudden, involuntary contractions)


spasmophilia
In psychiatry, a neuropsychiatric syndrome consisting of moderate anxiety, irritability, hypermotility, insomnia, dysfunction in various organ systems (gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, genital, skin).

All of the symptoms may be precipitated or aggravated by hyperventilation.

spasmophilic
Marked by a tendency to spasms.
spasmus
Another term for "spasm".
spastic
1. Of the nature of or characterized by spasms.
2. Hypertonic (high tension), so that the muscles are stiff and the movements awkward.
3. Relating to spasm or to spasticity; that is, affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
spasticity
A state of increased tone of a muscle and an increase in the deep tendon reflexes.

For example, with spasticity of the legs (spastic paraplegia) there is an increase in tone of the leg muscles so they feel tight and rigid and the knee jerk reflex is exaggerated.

tetanospasmin
The neurotoxic component of the exotoxin (tetanus toxin) produced by Clostridium tetani, a highly potent protein that binds to gangliosides and blocks the synaptic terminals of the central nervous system, causing the typical muscle spasms of tetanus.

It is one of the most powerful poisons known.

tonic spasm
A continuous involuntary muscular contraction.
urethrospasm
1. Spasm of the urethra.
2. Irritability or spasmodic stricture of the urethra (tube that conveys urine from the bladder to the outside).
vasospasm, vasospastic
1. Sustained contraction of the muscular walls of the blood vessels with a resultant reduction in blood flow.
2. The sudden constriction of an artery, leading to a decrease in its diameter and in the amount of blood it can deliver.
xyrospasm, keirospasm
1. An occupational spasm or neurosis seen in barbers and involving the muscles of the forearm and the wrist.
2. Shaving cramp; an occupational dystonia affecting the hands and fingers of barbers.

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