MYOCLONUS

Updated 04-May-2020.

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Myoclonus | Meaning of Myoclonus by Lexico: What does myoclonus mean? myoclonus is defined by the lexicographers at Oxford Dictionaries as Spasmodic jerky contraction of groups of muscles.

Definition of MYOCLONUS: irregular involuntary contraction of a muscle usually resulting from functional disorder of controlling motor neurons; also : a condition characterized by myoclonus… See the full definition

My botty best at summarizing from Wikipedia: myoclonus is a brief, involuntary, irregular (lacking rhythm) twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles . it describes a medical sign and, generally, is not hiccups are a kind of myoclonic jerk specifically affecting the diaphragm . when a spasm is caused by another person it is known as a provoked spansm myoclonus is one of several signs in a wide variety of nervous system disorders . symptoms include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, Alzheimer’s, dementia . anatomically, my sudden jerks and twitching of the body can often be so severe that it can cause a small child to fall . a myoclonic seizure is a sudden involuntary contraction of in reflex epilepsies, myoclonic seizures can be brought on by flashing lights or other environmental triggers (see photosensitive epilepsy) Severe cases can distort movement and severely limit a person myoclonic jerks commonly occur in individuals with epilepsy . jerkers involve only a few muscles in one part of the body . it can be intensified when patients attempt to move in a certain some scientists speculate that some forms of essential myoclonus may be a type of epilepsy with no known cause . jerking and muscle twitches of the upper extremities can affect one of every 14 people seizures typically occur shortly after waking up . onset for JME can be seen around puberty for most patients . administration of medications that also treat multiple seizure types is usually the most effective form of treatment . lafora disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder . the disease occurs only when a child inherits two copies of a defective gene . studies have identified at least three forms of PME many of these PME diseases begin in childhood or adolescence . treatment is not normally successful for any extended period of time . myoclonic jerks usually affect the whole body, with muscles on both sides affected simultaneously . it was first described by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1723, who suffered from it the condition characterizes spoken communication that sounds like a short-breathed hiccup . rate of diaphragmatic contraction ranges between 35 and 480 contractions per minute . studies show possible causes action myoclonus can affect the arms, legs, face, and even the voice . it is often associated with tonic-clonic seizures and diffuse neuronal disease . the disease may be restricted to one limb Palatal myoclonus is a regular, rhythmic contraction of one or both sides of the rear of the roof of the mouth, called the soft palate. myoclonus can occur in the face, tongue, throat, and diaphragm . the contractions are very rapid, occurring as often as 150 times a minute . it usually appears in adults and can last tensor tympani and stapedius muscles may be involved . it can involve the muscles surrounding the Eustachian tube . sufferers describe it as a thumping sound or sensation stimulus-sensitive myoclonus is triggered by a variety of external events, including noise, movement, and light. Surprise may increase the sensitivity of the patient. sleep myoclonus can be associated with patients with Tourette syndrome . it may develop as a side effect of certain drugs or other disorders . if it is a symptom of a more complex and disturbing sleep myoclonus is one of several symptoms associated with a variety of nervous system disorders . jerks commonly occur in persons with epilepsy, a disorder in which electrical activity in the brain becomes disordered leading merrf is a rare mitochondrial encephalomyopathy . it is also found in MERRF (myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers) jerks of muscle groups, the specific mechanisms underlying myoclonus are not yet fully understood . scientists believe some types may involve overexcitability of parts of the brain that control movement . these parts are interconnected in a series of feedback neurotransmitters carry messages from one nerve cell, or neuron, to another . laboratory studies suggest imbalance between these chemicals may underlie myoclonus . abnormalities or deficiencies in receptors may contribute to some forms of more research is needed to determine how receptor abnormalities cause or contribute to myoclonus . treatment is most effective when the underlying cause is known, and can be treated as such . Hormonal therapy may improve responses to differences in the effect of 5-HTP on patients with myoclonus have not yet been explained . barbiturates, phenytoin and primidone are effective antiepileptics drugs . some people have adverse reactions to clonazepam and/or sodium valproate . anticonvulsants are the main line of treatment . paradoxical reactions to treatment are notable . sometimes this leads to the mistake of increasing the dose, rather than decreasing or stopping the drug . treatment of myoclonus focuses on medications that may help reduce symptoms . drugs used include sodium valproate, clo the beneficial effects of clonazepam may diminish over time if the patient develops a tolerance to the drug . in forms of myoclonus where only a single area is affected, Botox DBS is being studied for use with myoclonus and other movement disorders . in severe cases, movement can be extremely distorted and limit ability to normally function . treatment that is usually effective may instead cause adverse reaction to the primary focus of research is on the role of neurotransmitters and receptors involved in the disease . identifying whether abnormalities in these pathways cause myoclonus may help in efforts to develop drug treatments and diagnostic tests . the variant stressing the -clo- syllable is only pronunciation given in a half dozen major american dictionaries . it is given in the British English module of Oxford Dictionaries online but not in the American