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Definitions for: Spasm
[n] (pathology) sudden constriction of a hollow organ (as a blood vessel)
[n] a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
Webster (1913) Definition: Spasm, n. [F. spasme, L. spasmus, Gr. ?, from ?, ?, to
draw, to cause convulsion. Cf. Span, v. t.]
1. (Med.) An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or
more muscles or muscular fibers.
Note: Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic. In clonic
spasm, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and
relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic
spasm, the contraction is steady and uniform, and
continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.
2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a
spasm of repentance.
Cynic spasm (Med.) See under Cynic.
Spasm of the chest. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.
Synonyms: cramp, muscle spasm
See Also: blepharospasm, bronchospasm, cardiospasm, charleyhorse, constriction, crick, graphospasm, heave, laryngismus, myoclonus, opisthotonos, retch, rick, symptom, tenesmus, trismus, twitch, twitching, vellication, wrick, writer's cramp
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